UHiUiiilllliniilHIilK 


nniijinunnii 


iiimiiiittiitini! 


Columbia  SSnibersiitp 
in  tfte  Citp  of  iSeto  gorfe 


LIBRARY 


GIVEN   BY 

Union  Theological  Seminary 


^^ 


ST.  CLOUD  CHURCH 


By  MARY  ELIZABETH  BROWN 


1917 


9  2)S^-^ 


Gift  of  Union  Theo!ogic -'  C  -ir.-r.ary 


To  the  Memory  of  the  Dear  Ones,  who  have  passed 
beyond  the  veil,  who  loved  the  little  church  and 
now  ivorship  where  ''the  Lord  God  Almighty  and 
the  Lamb  are  the  Temple" 


In  the  compilation  of  this  history,  I  wish  to 
express  my  gratitude  for  the  valuable  assistance 
which  I  have  received  from  my  daughter,  Miss  Mary 
Magoun  Brown,  also  from  Miss  Theodosia  Jessup, 
who  has  acted  as  my  secretary. 

M.  E.  B. 


INTRODUCTION 


The  fortieth  anniversary  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  was  so  inter- 
esting that  it  suggested  to  me  the  appropriateness  of  having  a 
consecutive  written  history.  Everyone  was  pleased  with  the  idea, 
but  it  seemed  impossible  to  obtain  definite  information.  Many 
who  were  familiar  with  the  earlier  details  of  the  church  have 
passed  away,  and  the  memory  of  the  earliest  inhabitants  of  the 
neighborhood  is  very  vague  in  respect  to  the  subject. 

If  an  accurate  history  were  to  be  prepared  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  come  after  us,  it  was  imperative  to  do  the  work  without 
delay.  Fortunately,  I  had  preserved  all  the  newspaper  cuttings, 
annual  reports  and  monthly  church  calendars,  and  I  decided  to 
weave  these  fragmentary  extracts  into  a  continuous  history. 

I  can  but  say  with  Montaigne,  "I  have  here  only  made  a  nose- 
gay of  culled  flowers,  and  have  brought  nothing  of  my  own  but 
the  thread  that  ties  them  together." 

M.  E.  B. 


ST.  CLOUD  CHURCH 


CHAPTER  I. 

Nestled  among  quiet  hills,  and  yet  almost  within  sight  and 
hearing  of  teeming  towns  and  cities,  is  the  lovely  little  New  Jersey 
hamlet  that  has  been  called  "the  parish  in  the  clouds."  Beyond 
the  hills  time  has  moved  apace,  and  from  the  mountain-top,  a  bare 
quarter  of  a  mile  away  from  the  little  St.  Cloud  Church,  one  may 
see  the  level  countryside  filled  "like  a  brimming  beaker"  with  the 
roofs,  spires,  trees,  and  smoking  factory  chimneys  of  closely 
crowded  towns  that  only  stop  where  the  sea  and  river  divide  them 
from  the  far-distant  phantom  skyscrapers  of  New  York.  But 
here,  behind  the  mountain-crest,  time  has  moved  more  gently. 
No  trolley  clangs  along  the  winding  country  road.  The  summer 
sun  smiles  on  scenes  and  homesteads  that  still  have  the  flavor  of 
old  colonial  days,  and  the  new  arrival  from  the  city's  bustle  feels 
that  he  has  stepped  into  a  land  of  day-dreams — deliciously  peace- 
ful and  remote. 

A  record  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  is  far  from  being  one  of 
mere  day-dreams,  however.  Long  before  the  present  church  was 
established  the  people  of  this  region  showed  that  they  were  men 
and  women  of  zeal  and  character,  far  more  interested  in  doing 
than  in  dreaming.  Over  150  years  ago,  as  "the  Mountain  Society," 
they  were  active  in  forming  the  First  Church  of  Orange,  which, 
though  down  the  mountain  and  far  away  from  them,  was  much 
nearer    than    the    Newark    church    which    they    had    previously 


10  St.  Cloud  Church 

attended.  The  "Christian  Path"  is  a  testimonial  to  the  faithful- 
ness of  these  early  church-goers. 

Starting  at  some  distant  point  on  the  second  mountain  and 
crossing  what  is  now  known  as  "Perry  Lane"  on  its  way  to 
Orange,  ran  this  old  pathway,  which  may  yet  be  traced  among  the 
trees.  Over  it  the  godly  men  and  women  of  the  region,  in  little 
groups  and  companies,  made  their  way  down  the  mountain  to  the 
weekly  service  at  Orange,  and  so  regular  and  faithful  was  their 
use  of  the  rugged  short-cut  that  it  soon  came  to  bear  their  name. 
One  is  inclined  to  think  the  name  a  well  merited  one,  and  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  know  that  such  preachers  as  Drs.  Taylor,  Smith, 
Hillyer,  White,  and  Hoyt  ministered  to  these  deserving  souls. 

True  to  Biblical  tradition,  the  Christian  Path  is  a  "straight  and 
narrow"  one,  and  is  so  steep  in  places  that  it  must  have  been 
fairly  dangerous  before  Captain  Day  ordered  his  soldiers  to  make 
steps  in  the  more  precipitous  parts  of  the  rock.  The  story  goes 
that  Judge  Day,  of  Orange,  in  the  War  of  1812  organized  a  com- 
pany of  soldiers  that  was  composed  almost  exclusively  of  men 
from  the  Second  Valley.  As  they  came  to  Orange  almost  daily  to 
drill,  they  found  it  to  their  advantage  to  improve  this  short-cut 
and  make  it  more  easy  to  travel.  After  this  it  was  occasionally 
traversed  by  some  of  the  people  on  horseback,  but  only  by  such 
as  ventured  to  trust  themselves  to  the  sure  footing  of  a  tried  and 
faithful  horse. 

Just  below  the  summit  of  the  mountain  a  cool  spring  bubbled 
up  close  to  the  path  and  here  the  pilgrims  stopped,  on  their 
"Sabbath-day's  journey,"  to  rest  and  refresh  themselves,  while 
tradition  tells  us  that  many  of  them,  too  poor  to  be  wasteful  of 
shoe  leather,  took  this  occasion  to  put  on  their  shoes  and  stockings, 
which  they  had  carried  thus  far.  The  spring  is  no  longer  there, 
but  a  monument,  erected  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Crosby  Brown, 
through  whose  grounds  the  path  passes,  marks  the  spot.    A  great 


St.  Cloud  Church  11 

stone,  rough-hewn,  stands  close  to  the  path,  with  a  cross  rising 
from  it  bearing  this  inscription: 

The  Christian  Path 

The  Christian  pilgrims 

Who  this  pathway  trod 
Are  now  in  heaven, 

And  walk  with  God. 

The  monument  was  quarried  from  a  spot  near  by,  so  it  is  as  if 
the  very  stones  on  which  the  pilgrims  trod  had  risen  up  to  speak 
their  praise.  On  the  brow  of  the  mountain  another  landmark,  in 
the  form  of  a  cross  of  solid  wood,  shows  the  place  where  the 
path,  after  being  obliterated  for  a  short  distance,  becomes  clearly 
defined  again. 

The  great  appeal  which  the  beauty  of  Orange  Mountain  and 
the  associations  connected  with  the  "Christian  Path"  make  to  the 
imagination  of  the  sympathetic  observer  is  shown  in  the  following 
poem  by  Dr.  Henry  M.  Cobb,  written  on  the  mountain,  August, 
1879: 

Orange  Mountain 

I  know  a  mountain  crowned  with  beauty  rare, 

Where  birds  are  singing  in  the  leafy  trees; 
Where  fountains  sparkle  in  the  sunlight  fair. 

And  flowers  are  waving  in  the  summer  breeze. 
There,  groves  and  garlands  turn  to  fairy  bowers 

The  stately  mansions,  flinging  colors  gay 
Upon  their  walls.    It  is  the  land  of  flowers 

From  spring's  first  budding  till  the  autumn  gray, 
And  laughing  nature  holds  high  carnival  all  day. 


12  St.  Cloud  Church 

Up  this  fair  mountain  climbs  the  "Christian  Path;" 

Though  long  unused,  let  not  its  memory  die! 
To  mark  the  way,  a  simple  cross  it  hath, 

Where  many  a  pilgrim  trod  in  days  gone  by. 
There,  passing  to  and  from  the  house  of  God, 

With  gladness  some,  and  some  with  tearful  eyes. 
They  climbed  the  steep,  and  from  the  ascending  road, 

'Mid  purer  airs,  and  under  brighter  skies, 
Looked  down  upon  the  world  with  ever  strange  surprise. 

There  is  a  story  one  may  sometimes  hear, 

And  simple-minded  Arabs  love  to  tell. 
How,  still  upon  the  summit  of  Mount  Seir, 

In  far-off  Edom,  Esau's  children  dwell. 
The  air  is  calm,  the  sky  above  them  bright; 

The  earth  is  far  below,  but  Heaven  is  near; 
And  ever  as  they  listen,  day  or  night. 

Comes  singing  through  the  crystal  atmosphere. 
The  soft,  sweet  song  of  angels  they  are  blest  to  hear. 

0,  happy  dwellers  on  this  mountain  fair. 

Be  yours  the  wisdom  and  the  joy  to  know 
The  lesson  of  your  lot;  your  daily  care 

To  live  on  high,  and  keep  the  world  below; 
To  hear  the  voice  of  angels  breathing  soft. 

Sweet  songs  of  Heaven,  to  cheer  your  upward  way; 
To  tread  in  truth  the  Christian  path,  and  oft 

Hold  converse  with  the  skies,  by  night  or  day, 
And  dwell,  at  last,  upon  the  mount  of  God  alway. 

Ministers,    as   well    as    people,    used    the    "Christian    Path." 
During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Hillyer    (First  Church,  Orange)    a 


St.  Cloud  Church  13 

large  proportion  of  the  members  of  his  church  resided  in  the 
Second  Valley,  and  weekly  religious  meetings  were  held  there  for 
their  accommodation.  Rev.  Mr.  White,  his  successor,  also  made  it 
a  part  of  his  parochial  duty  to  maintain  religious  services  in  that 
part  of  the  parish,  walking  over  and  back,  in  summer  and  winter, 
heat  and  cold,  in  moonlight  and  storm.  This  continued  to  be  the 
only  way  in  which  the  people  of  the  valley  and  the  mountain  were 
ministered  to  for  quite  a  long  time. 


14  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  II. 


In  November,  1862,  a  survey  of  the  region  was  made  with  a 
view  to  establishing  a  separate  church  and  parish.  This  survey 
was  made  by  the  Rev.  George  B.  Bacon,  pastor  of  the  Orange 
Valley  Congregational  Church.  He  found  that  for  a  few  years  a 
Sunday  School  had  been  held  during  the  summer  months  in  the 
district  schoolhouse  at  the  fork  of  the  road  between  Cherry  Lane 
and  the  Northfield  Road.  This  effort  was  not  as  successful  as  it 
should  have  been,  owing  to  a  lack  of  teachers  and  supplies.  An 
offer  of  help  from  the  Orange  Valley  Church  was  gladly  accepted 
and  the  new  organization  under  Mr.  Abraham  Baldwin  as  super- 
intendent, and  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Samuel  C.  Hay,  grew  so 
rapidly  during  the  summer  of  1863  that  the  schoolhouse  was 
unable  to  contain  all  who  came,  and  the  meetings  were  held  in  a 
grove  on  the  hillside.  In  the  fall  it  was  decided  to  build  a  church 
which  could  accommodate  the  school  and  serve  as  a  house  for 
worship.  The  effort  was  successful,  and  soon  a  building  was 
erected  on  a  site  which  is  approximately  that  occupied  now  by  the 
feed  store  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Hirt.  Soon  afterwards  the  Orange 
Valley  Congregational  Church  adopted  the  work  as  its  own  mis- 
sion— its  members  to  be  counted  as  members  of  the  parent  church 
and  its  support  to  be  assumed  as  part  of  the  regular  budget. 
During  the  winter  the  interest  so  increased,  however,  that  in  May, 
1867,  thirty-one  members  of  the  Orange  Valley  Church  were 
dismissed  to  form  an  independent  organization,  an  action  officially 
recognized  on  May  23rd,  1867,  by  an  ecclesiastical  council  called 
for  the  purpose. 

At  a  communion  service  held  June  2nd,  1867,  the  Rev.  George 


St.  Cloud  Church  15 

B.  Bacon  preached  a  sermon  and  presided  over  a  congregational 
meeting,  when  the  following  officers  were  chosen: 

Deacons:    F.  L.  B.  Mayhew,  D.  I.  Jacobus,  J.  C.  Savale. 
Standing  Committee :    L.  F.  Kirsten,  J.  Agar,  A.  Baldwin. 
Smiday  School  Superintendent:    A.  Baldwin. 
Precentor:    Miss  E.  C.  Belcher. 

The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Timothy  Atkinson,  who  began 
work  September  14th,  1867.  He  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Dana 
M.  Walcott,  of  Torringford,  Conn.,  who  was  installed  November 
16th,  1871.  Rev.  C.  H.  Oliphant,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  was  the 
third  and  last  pastor,  being  installed  July  12th,  1876,  and  con- 
tinuing his  work  until  October  7th,  1878,  when  he  resigned. 

For  two  seasons  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  and  their  family  wor- 
shipped at  the  Valley  Church,  which  is  about  a  mile  from  their 
home  on  Orange  Mountain.  The  need  was  felt  for  a  church  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Cloud,  however,  and  Mr.  Brown  told  the  people  of 
the  congregation  that  if  they  would  raise  a  sum  of  money  towards 
a  new  church,  he  would  double  it  and  help  them  in  every  way 
possible.  An  effort  was  made,  but  was  so  unsuccessful  that  the 
plan  had  to  be  abandoned. 

Some  time  later  the  matter  was  again  agitated,  and  after  much 
discussion  it  was  decided  to  move  the  church  to  a  place  on  Edge- 
wood  Avenue  in  St.  Cloud,  which  was  then  called  the  Buchan 
property.  Just  what  year  this  was  completed,  and  how  long  it 
was  used,  is  not  recorded,  but  it  was  not  long-lived.  To  one  who 
reads  the  minutes  of  the  many  councils  held  in  the  latter  years  of 
this  church's  history,  it  becomes  evident  that  the  organization  was 
sorely  troubled  by  difficulties,  not  only  financial  in  character, 
which  grew  so  grave  as  to  necessitate  the  disbanding  of  the  church. 
The  date  of  the  dissolution  is  not  known.     Some  time  later  the 


16  St.  Cloud  Church 

church  lot  and  building  were  bought  by  Robert  H.  Martin,  who 
used  some  of  the  building  material  in  erecting  his  own  house. 
Very  few  traces  remain  today  of  the  enterprise  which  started  out 
so  hopefully  and  well. 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  need  for  a  church  at  St.  Cloud  was  still  acutely  felt,  and 
this  need  was  at  last  realized  in  1877  in  the  union  of  two  groups 
of  worshippers,  who  had  been  gathering  in  the  valley  and  on 
the  mountain.  The  first,  composed  in  large  part  of  members  of 
the  congregation  of  the  old  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Orange, 
had  been  ministered  to  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Williams,  of  San 
Francisco,  during  summer  visits  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
birthplace. 

In  the  days  of  '49  Mr.  Williams,  then  a  pastor  in  this  state, 
received  a  commission  from  the  Board  of  Home  Missions,  with 
directions  to  proceed  forthwith  to  the  new  field  of  Christian 
activity  opened  by  the  rush  of  miners  to  the  gold  diggings  of 
California.  He  became  a  pioneer  pastor  upon  the  Pacific  Coast, 
sailing  from  New  York  to  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  ascending  the 
Chagres  River  in  a  canoe,  completing  the  transit  between  the 
oceans  on  a  mustang,  and  hastening  on  to  San  Francisco  upon  an 
overcrowded  steamship.  When  he  reached  the  Golden  Gate  there 
was  not  one  Protestant  church  of  any  denomination  upon  the 
Pacific  Slope.  Quickly  gathering  a  congregation  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, he  ministered  to  it  in  an  edifice  which  was  framed  in  New 
York  City  and  had  been  forwarded  around  Cape  Horn  in  sections, 
together  with  the  necessary  furniture,  including  pulpit,  pews, 
lamps,  books,  and  bell. 

It  was  natural  that  one  whose  alertness  had  such  conspicuous 
illustration  in  1849-1850  should  have  accepted  leadership  when 
some  of  his  kindred  and  acquaintances  in  West  Orange  residing 


St.  Cloud  Church  17 

at  a  distance  from  their  house  of  prayer  gathered  for  social 
worship  in  the  schoolhouse,  where  a  little  Sunday  School  was  also 
established.  Here  Mr.  Williams  preached  and  prayed  with  the 
people  of  the  neighborhood;  near  here  in  after  years  he  made  his 
home;  near  here  he  died  on  the  4th  of  June,  1893,  at  the  age  of 
four  and  four  score  years. 

Another  group  of  worshippers,  also  distant  from  their  home 
church,  gathered  in  the  summer  residence  of  the  Rev.  William 
Adams,  D.  D.,  of  New  York  City,  and  asked  for  a  Sunday  message 
from  the  lips  of  their  former  pastor.  The  majority  of  these 
hearers  were  members  of  the  Madison  Square  Presbyterian  Church 
of  New  York  City,  where  Dr.  Adams  had  been  the  minister  of  the 
Word  of  God  for  more  than  forty  years.  The  son  of  John  Adams, 
the  famous  principal  of  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  Mass.;  a 
descendant  of  the  old  stock  of  Henry  Adams,  which  gave  two 
presidents  to  the  United  States;  a  graduate  of  Yale  College;  this 
metropolitan  minister,  by  his  inheritance  and  by  his  ability,  stood 
in  a  position  of  prominence;  and  he  received  from  the  Church 
at  large  many  marks  of  its  appreciation  of  his  powers  and  virtues. 
He  was  an  attractive  preacher,  a  model  pastor,  a  magnificent  man. 
He  was  a  master  of  the  right  word  for  the  right  moment.  He  had 
a  keen  sense  of  the  fitness  of  things.  He  could  say  "Homo  sum;" 
and  he  knew  how  to  study  human  nature  in  all  of  its  keys.  He 
never  lost  faith  in  the  power  of  the  Gospel  to  attune  men's  hearts 
to  God's  praise.  He  loved  to  visit  the  needy  in  their  affliction,  and 
he  kept  himself  unspotted  from  the  world.  In  the  great  movement 
in  which  the  two  Assemblies  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  were 
brought  into  union  Dr.  Adams  was  a  conspicuous  leader.  The 
work  was  difficult  and  delicate.  His  addresses,  now  in  the  New 
School  Assembly,  now  before  the  Old  School  Assembly,  were 
models  in  their  presentation  of  truth,  in  their  display  of  tact  and 
in  their  manifestation  of  tenderness.     These  appeals  contributed 


18  St.  Cloud  Church 

most  powerfully  to  the  forming  of  the  judgment,  which  finally 
became  almost  unanimous,  that  Reunion  was  safe,  and  right  and 
necessary. 

In  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland, 
meeting  in  Edinburgh,  in  1871;  upon  the  platform  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Alliance,  meeting  in  New  York  in  1873,  Dr.  Adams  made 
addresses  which  moved  mightily  the  leaders  of  thought  who  sat 
before  him. 

Thus  it  was  easy,  in  1876,  to  write  the  name  of  Dr.  Adams 
among  those  most  eminent  in  his  generation.  He  held  a  high  place 
in  the  city  of  his  ministry,  in  the  denomination  of  his  choice,  in 
the  church  at  large  the  world  over. 

During  the  summer  of  1876,  the  year  of  the  Centennial  celebra- 
tion at  Philadelphia,  these  two  groups  were  meeting  from  Sunday 
to  Sunday,  the  one  in  the  valley,  the  other  on  the  summit.  These 
two  flocks,  one  under  the  leadership  of  the  pioneer  pastor  of  the 
Pacific  Coast,  one  under  the  guidance  of  the  prominent  preacher 
of  the  chief  city  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  were  drawn  together  in 
1877,  and  united  in  bonds  of  Christian  love.  They  met  together 
for  the  first  time  on  Sunday,  May  27,  and  in  that  union  service  can 
be  seen  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church  which  was  to  be.* 

While  these  bonds  of  fellowship  were  being  formed,  kind 
providences  were  preparing  a  home  for  the  infant  organization. 
On  December  4th,  1876,  a  choice  plot  of  ground,  on  a  convenient 
corner,  had  been  offered  as  a  gift  by  Mr.  Douglas  Robinson,  Sr., 
an  Episcopalian.  Soon  after,  a  very  generous  donation  by  Mr. 
James  Brown  made  possible  an  immediate  effort  for  the  rearing 
of  a  church  edifice.  Before  long,  plans  and  estimates  were 
obtained,  and  later  contracts  were  signed.  Mr.  Brown  lived  to 
know  that  the  stone  structure  had  been  reared.  Mr.  Robinson 
saw  the  building  of  the  chapel,  the  grading  of  the  grounds,  the 

*  Sermon  by  Dr.  Whitaker  at  25th  anniversary  of  St.  Cloud  Church. 


St.  Cloud  Church  19 

planting  of  trees,  shrubs,  and  flowers,  and  the  climbing  of  the  ivy 
from  Melrose  Abbey  over  the  stone  walls,  for  his  life  was  spared 
until  November,  1893. 

The  proposed  church  was  welcomed  not  alone  by  the  two 
groups  just  mentioned,  but  by  the  whole  community.  An  informal 
canvass  of  the  region  showed  that  while  various  elements  were 
present — Methodists,  Baptists,  Episcopalians,  Swedenborgians, 
etc. — there  was  a  large  preponderance  of  the  Presbyterian  element 
and  the  little  Presbyterian  church  welcomed  people  of  all  denomi- 
nations to  its  services. 


20  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  first  event  in  the  history  of  the  building  of  the  church — 
the  laying  of  the  cornerstone — took  place  on  Saturday  afternoon, 
March  17th,  1877.  On  account  of  the  unpleasant  state  of  the 
weather,  and  also  of  the  roads,  a  snow  storm  having  occurred  the 
previous  night,  but  few  of  those  intending  to  come  were  able  to 
be  present ;  yet  quite  a  gathering  of  people  arrived  at  the  appointed 
hour.  The  services  were  necessarily  abridged  from  what  was 
intended,  had  the  day  been  pleasant.  They  consisted  of  a  few 
remarks  by  Dr.  Adams  respecting  the  Bible,  which  was  the  only 
thing  deposited  in  the  stone,  and  also  concerning  the  spirit  and 
purpose  with  which  the  church  was  being  erected.  The  stone  was 
laid  by  the  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Orange,  Dr.  Eldridge 
Mix,  as  a  representative  of  the  Presbytery,  with  which  the  church 
was  to  be  connected,  who  also  offered  prayer. 

In  recording  the  event,  the  First  Church  Record,  a  monthly 
publication  of  the  First  Church,  Orange,*  mentions  two  happy 
circumstances — one,  that  the  edifice  to  be  erected  was  "nearly  in 
the  center  of  what  was  once  an  important  part  of  the  parish  of  the 
old  First  Church  of  Orange — its  hill  country — a  Presbyterian 
ground  of  long  standing;"  the  other,  that  only  a  few  rods  from  the 
site  chosen  for  the  church  was  the  beginning  of  the  famous  short- 
cut of  which  mention  has  been  made  before.  "It  is  most  appro- 
priate," says  the  Record,  "that  a  house  of  worship  should  be 
erected  so  near  to  the  point  where  this  'Christian  Path'  began, 
now  that  a  place  of  assembling  is  needed  there  by  a  growing 
population.  May  it  ...  be  the  center  toward  which  the 
path  of  many  a  Christian  worshipper  shall  turn  in  days  to  come, 
which  shall  be  a  well  worn  path,  because  so  often  trodden.    And 

*  First  Church  Record,  Orange,  N.  J.,  March,  1877. 


St.  Cloud  Church  21 

may  it  be  as  a  house  of  rest  and  refreshment  by  the  way  to  many 
of  God's  people  who  are  walking  in  the  straight  and  narrow  path 
that  leadeth  to  eternal  life  in  the  Better  Land. 

"It  is  also  of  interest,"  continues  the  Record,  "to  recall  the 
fact  that  almost  immediately  in  front  of  where  this  building  is 
being  erected,  on  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  was  established  in  the 
days  of  the  Revolution  a  signal  station  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
municating intelligence  to  the  interior  of  the  state  concerning  the 
movements  of  the  British  troops  and  other  matters  of  importance. 
Rev.  Dr.  McWhorter,  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Newark,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Caldwell,  of  the  First  Church  of  Elizabeth,  interested 
themselves  in  securing  proper  sites  for  these  signal  stations  and 
manning  them.  It  can  scarcely  be  doubted,  therefore,  that  this 
very  signal  station  of  which  we  are  speaking  was  established  by 
these  two  clergymen,  whose  names  are  in  other  vrays  besides  this 
associated  with  some  of  the  most  stirring  events  of  Revolutionary 
times. 

"And  now,"  concludes  the  Record,  "it  is  most  fitting  that,  after 
a  lapse  of  a  century  of  our  national  existence,  just  as  we  are  enter- 
ing upon  the  first  year  of  a  new  century,  another  signal  station, 
in  the  form  of  a  Christian  church,  with  its  spire  uplifted  heaven- 
ward, should  be  erected  so  near  to  the  very  spot  which  was  then 
made  memorable  by  the  action  of  these  two  clergymen  in  the 
interest  of  their  country.  It  is  most  meet  that  ministers  of  the 
gospel  should  gather,  as  they  did  the  other  day,  in  the  interests  of 
the  country  they  love,  as  well  as  in  the  interest  of  Jesus  Christ  and 
His  kingdom  on  earth,  and  lay  the  cornerstone  of  a  building 
which  may  serve  for  generations  to  come  as  a  signal  station  to  all 
the  region  round  about,  communicating  intelligence  concerning 
the  progress  of  the  great  conflict  between  the  kingdoms  of  light 
and  darkness,  and  enlisting  the  energies  of  all  the  Lord's  people 
here  congregated  in  the  service  of  Him  who  is  one  day  to  become 


22  St.  Cloud  Church 

the  acknowledged  King  and  Lord  of  the  whole  earth.  May 
Heaven's  rich  blessings  attend  this  new  enterprise  both  now  and 
in  all  its  after  history." 

The  following  account  of  the  historical  incident  alluded  to 
above  is  taken  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  July 
16th,  1777: 

"Colonels  Van  Cortland  and  Potter  and  the  Revs.  Mr. 
McWhorter  and  Mr.  Caldwell  requesting  to  appear  before  the 
Board  on  particular  business,  ordered  that  they  be  admitted. 

"The  above  gentlemen  appeared  before  the  Board  and  gave 
a  particular  account  of  the  situation  of  Essex,  Middlesex,  etc.; 
that  the  two  Continental  Regiments  stationed  along  the  Essex  coast 
would  be  ordered  to  join  the  Grand  Army  as  soon  as  the  enemy's 
movements  indicated  their  design  and  destination;  that  in  such 
case  the  coast  would  be  exposed  to  the  depredation  and  incursions 
of  the  enemy  .  .  .  and  requesting  that  beacons  and  alarm 
posts  should  be  fixed  upon  and  appointed." 

November  15th,  1777:  "His  Excellency  produced  to  the 
Board  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Caldwell  to  Major-General  Dick- 
inson, dated  the  22nd  Oct.  last,  containing  his  report  to  General 
Dickinson,  who  had  been  requested  by  the  Board  to  inform  them 
of  the  most  proper  place  to  fix  beacons  and  appoint  alarm  posts, 
by  which  it  appears  to  this  Board  most  expedient  to  remove  the 
piece  of  cannon  now  lying  at  Princeton,  to  the  mountain  that 
nearly  divides  the  space  between  Elizabeth  and  Morristown,*  to 
be  put  under  guard  of  the  man  who  lives  where  the  said  cannon 
is  to  be  fixed,  and  a  few  of  his  neighbors  who  ought  to  be  ex- 
empted from  military  duty;  that  it  would  further  be  proper  to 
erect  a  pile  on  the  hill  near  where  Mr.  McGee  formerly  lived**, 

*Short  Hills. 
**  South  Orange. 


St.  Cloud  Church  23 

whence  the  guard  from  the  said  mountain  may  see  the  fire  and 
smoke,  and  by  that  means  know  that  the  gun  fired  at  Elizabeth 
Town  is  intended  for  an  alarm  and  upon  that  signal  fire  the  can- 
non on  the  mountain.  The  Council  hereupon  agreed  that  Mr. 
Caldwell  be  desired  to  carry  the  above  plan  into  execution  and 
to  transmit  to  the  Board  an  account  of  the  expenses  attending 
the  same." 

January  8th,  1778:  "Ordered  that  in  addition  to  the  orders 
already  given  to  Mr.  Caldwell,  with  respect  to  the  erection  of 
beacons  for  the  purpose  of  alarming  the  country  in  case  of  in- 
vasion, he  be  further  desired  to  direct  that  one  be  set  up  at  Mor- 
ristown  and  another  at  Long  Hill,  and  one  or  two  to  the  north- 
ward of  New  Ark  (Newark),  and  that  he  be  requested  to  appoint 
proper  persons  to  take  the  care  of  and  attend  them,  and  that  the 
person  provided  shall  be  exempted,  when  known,  from  military 
duty." 


24  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  V. 

During  the  next  two  months  the  church  was  building,  and  in 
May  the  opening  services  were  held.  The  following  account  gives 
details: 

"The  new  church  building  at  St.  Cloud  was  opened  with  appro- 
priate services  on  Sunday  morning,  May  27th,  1877.  Although 
the  church  building  was  not  nearly  completed,  the  exercises  were 
hastened  in  order  that  they  might  be  conducted  by  Dr.  Adams, 
who  sailed  for  Europe  on  Wednesday.  The  building  was  little 
more  than  enclosed,  and  the  congregation  was  seated  upon  chairs 
and  stools  brought  from  neighboring  houses.  The  attendance 
was  large,  and  consisted  of  the  residents  for  miles  around,  who 
came  in  wagons  and  carriages.  The  service  was  opened  at  eleven 
o'clock  with  an  invocation  for  the  Divine  blessing,  after  which  a 
hymn  was  sung,  and  Dr.  Adams  read  selections  of  Scripture  from 
Acts  first,  and  the  twelfth  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans. 
Then  followed  an  earnest  simple  prayer  and  another  hymn.  No- 
tice was  given  that  services  would  be  held  in  the  church  every 
Sunday  morning  at  eleven  o'clock,  Sunday  School  at  half-past 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  that  due  notice  would  be  given 
of  a  meeting  to  organize  the  church. 

"Dr.  Adams  announced  as  his  text,  Deut.  33:25:  'As  thy  days 
so  shall  thy  strength  be,'  and  2nd  Cor.  12:9:  'My  grace  is  suf- 
ficient for  thee,'  and  delivered  a  short  and  impressive  address. 
He  exhorted  his  hearers  to  faith  in  God's  promises,  and  assured 
them  that  in  whatever  difficulty  they  might  be  placed,  or  whatever 
trial  they  might  be  called  to  endure,  they  would  always  be  aided, 
and  supported  by  the  Unseen  Presence,  if  they  had  but  faith.  The 
congregation  was  very  visibly  affected  by  many  of  the  appeals. 


St.  Cloud  Church  25 

"The  service  closed  with  singing  and  the  benediction.  The 
music  was  very  spirited,  and  was  led  by  Mr.  John  Crosby  Brown, 
who  presided  at  the  Mason  and  Hamlin  organ." 

A  graphic  description  of  the  first  meeting  of  the  Sunday  School 
on  the  afternoon  of  this  same  day,  May  27th,  1877,  is  taken  from 
Mr.  Whitaker's  address  delivered  on  the  Sunday  School's  17th 
anniversary.    He  writes: 

"The  church  building  was  not  finished.  The  slates  were  lack- 
ing on  the  roof;  the  glass  had  not  been  placed  in  the  windows; 
the  pews  had  not  been  received.  Boards  on  nail-kegs  furnished 
seats.  Unbleached  muslin  filled  the  windows.  Trust  in  good 
weather  took  the  place  of  a  finished  roof. 

"On  that  27th  day  of  May,  when  our  Sunday  School  met  for 
the  first  time,  about  fifty  persons  were  present.  The  record  book 
of  1877  has  been  preserved;  and  this  says  that  the  weather  was 
threatening,  and  that  the  attendance  was  larger  than  had  been 
expected. 

"On  that  last  Sunday  of  May,  and  on  the  first  Sunday  of 
June,  the  School  met  in  the  afternoon;  but  this  plan  was  followed 
for  only  two  Sundays.  On  the  next  Sunday,  June  second,  the 
church  was  organized,  and  public  worship  was  held.  The  hour  of 
School  was  changed  from  the  afternoon  to  the  morning;  and  it  has 
continued  to  be  in  the  morning  for  seventeen  years.  Tlie  record 
of  the  first  weeks  of  the  School  is  preserved  in  the  handwriting 
of  Mr.  Brown,  its  first  superintendent  and  secretary.  In  October, 
on  his  return  to  New  York,  the  duties  of  superintendent  and  sec- 
retary were  separated.  Mr.  Robert  P.  Anderson  became  the  act- 
ing superintendent,  and  Mr.  Samuel  B.  Jackson  was  duly  elected 
the  secretary.  Thereafter,  and  for  many  months,  the  records  were 
kept  in  the  careful  figures  and  round  hand  of  Mr.  Jackson. 


26  St.  Cloud  Church 

"The  roll  for  the  second  Sunday  of  June,  1877,  shows  the  fol- 
lowing attendance: 

One  ofl&cer. 

Ten  teachers. 

Nine  scholars  in  the  Primary  Class. 

Forty-two  scholars  in  the  main  school. 

The  whole  number  was  62. 
*The  names  were  these: 

One  officer — Mr.  Brown. 

Ten  teachers — Mr.  Rogers,  Mr.  Jacobus,  Mr.  Delano, 
Mr.  Emmons  Condit,  Mr.  Henry  Williams,  Miss 
Grace  Hartley,  Miss  Marcy,  Mrs.  Rogers,  Miss  Hart- 
ley, Mrs.  Brown  (Primary  Class). 

"There  were  NINE  scholars  in  the  primary  class;  they  were: 

Clara  Banister  Anna  Reichey 

Willie  Holterman  Emma  Reichey 

Linwood  French  Lizzie  Wagnast 

Nettie  Williams  Mary  Mitchell 
Crosby  Brown 

"There  were  FORTY-TWO  older  scholars;  and  their  names 
were: 

Mrs.  Albert  Condit  Louis  Rogers 

Miss  Alice  Condit  Willie  Mitchell 

Mrs.  Orlando  Williams  John  Lipsett 

Fanny  Bodenwieser  John  Wagnast 

Winifred  French  George  Mitchell 

Randolph  Condit  Nathaniel  Todd 

Roland  Condit  Alice  Fuller 


St.  Cloud  Church  27 

May  Brown  Theodore  Baker 

Minnie  Kindsgrab  Frank  Williams 

Lily  Williams  Ethan  Cutler 

Bessie  Brown  David  Woodward 

Frances  Bodenwieser  Frank  Small 

William  Adams  Brown  Herman  Ringer 

Robert  H.  Rogers  Fanny  Todd 

Edward  Mitchell  Belle  McKenzie 

Wallace  Williams  William  Reichey 

Robert  Collinson  Nellie  Williams 

William  Condit  Bertha  Condit 

David  Edwards  Mabel  Condit 

Two  weeks  later,  on  Sunday,  the  tenth  of  June,  the  new  church 
was  organized.  The  exercises  were  conducted  by  Dr.  Mix,  the 
pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Orange,  which  was  also  represented 
by  two  of  its  elders.  After  the  hymn  was  sung,  two  infants  were 
presented  for  baptism.  Then  letters,  to  the  number  of  sixteen, 
were  read  from  various  churches.  The  persons  named  in  these 
letters  voted  that  the  church  to  be  organized  should  be  known 
as  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church,  in  connection  with  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Morris  and  Orange.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  nearly 
half  of  these  new  members  were  furnished  with  letters  from  the 
First  Church  of  Orange,  and  that  the  old  names  of  Williams  and 
Condit,  which  were  the  first  on  the  records  of  the  "Mountain 
Society,"  appeared  now  on  the  roll  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church.  Many 
letters  were  also  read  from  Madison  Square  Church,  New  York. 


28  St.  Cloud  Church 

NAMES  OF  THE  CHARTER  MEMBERS  OF 
THE  ST.  CLOUD  CHURCH 

MARY  CONDIT  ROBERT  McARTHUR 

MOSES  CONDIT  ELLEN  McCLELLAN 

RACHEL  CONDIT  GEORGE  McCLELLAN 

EUGENE  DELANO  FREDERICK  McKENZIE 

SUSAN  DELANO  JANE  McKENZIE 

HENRY  KINDSGRAB  FANNIE  MARCY 

KATRINA  KINDSGRAB  MARY  MARCY 

JESSIE  McARTHUR  PHOEBE  WILLIAMS 

A  vote  was  then  taken  for  the  election  of  two  elders,  which 
resulted  in  the  unanimous  choice  of  General  George  B.  McCIellan 
and  Mr.  Eugene  Delano,  each  a  former  member  of  the  Madison 
Square  Presbyterian  Church  in  New  York.  Their  ordination  and 
installation  followed.  After  a  cordial  welcome  extended  to  them 
by  the  members  of  the  new  church  and  by  the  pastor  and  elders 
of  the  First  Church,  Orange,  the  exercises  were  closed  by  singing 
and  the  benediction.  The  whole  service,  which  occupied  an  hour, 
was  conducted  with  great  solemnity,  and  was  very  impressive  to 
all  who  attended. 


St.  Cloud  Church  29 


CHAPTER  VI. 


"On  Thursday  afternoon,  September  13,  1877,  at  three  o'clock, 
the  little  church,  recently  erected  at  St.  Cloud,  was  solemnly  dedi- 
cated to  the  worship  of  God,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost.  The  structure  is  a  gem  of  architectural  beauty,  both  ex- 
ternally and  internally,  and  it  was  built  by  the  architects.  Potter 
and  Robertson  of  New  York." 

The  services  of  dedication  were  very  interesting  and  impres- 
sive. The  church  was  crowded,  and  the  floral  decorations  were 
more  exquisite  than  often  seen.  On  the  wall  in  the  rear  of  the 
pulpit  directly  under  the  illuminated  motto, 

"I  will  come  to  you," 

hung  a  cross  of  delicate  ferns,  artistically  arranged.  On  each 
side  of  the  arch  spanning  the  pulpit  was  a  pillar  of  flowers  bright 
with  autumnal  hues  harmoniously  blended.  Baskets  of  flowers 
stood  on  the  pulpit,  and  between  them  lay  the  open  Bible.  Flow- 
ers were  placed  on  the  broad  window-sills  on  both  sides  of  the 
church. 

Under  the  memorial  window  arranged  in  flowers  was  the  in- 
scription, "Suff"er  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me." 

The  services  opened  with  a  voluntary,  during  which  the 
clergymen  present  came  in  from  the  vestry  and  took  their  places 
on  the  pulpit  platform. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  clergymen: 
Dr.  William  Adams. 
Rev.   Mr.  Worcester,   South  Orange,  moderator  of  the 

Presbytery. 
Dr.  Aikman,  of  Madison,  chairman  of  the  Church  Ex- 
tension Committee. 


30  St.  Cloud  Church 

Dr.  William  M.  Mabon,  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 

Weehawken. 
Rev.  Henry  N.  Cobb,  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 

Mill  Brook,  New  York. 
Rev.  Mr.  Mix  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hickok,  of  Orange. 
Rev.  Mr.  Danner,  of  Orange  Junction. 
Rev.  Mr.  Berry,  of  Caldwell. 
Rev.  Mr.  Hopwood,  of  Newark. 

Dr.  Tucker,  of  the  Madison  Square  Church,  New  York. 
Rev.  Dana  W.  Walcott,  of  Rutherford  Park. 
Rev.  Mr.  Averill,  of  Union  Theological  Seminary. 
Rev.  Mr.  Danner,  Rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  St. 

Cloud. 

In  the  audience  were  Dr.  Erdman,  of  Morristown,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hale,  of  Jersey  City. 

When  the  clergy  were  seated,  the  services  began  with  singing 
the  anthem,  "0  Lord,  my  God,"  after  which  followed  the  invo- 
cation by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Worcester. 

The  hymn,  "Come  Thou  Almighty  King,"  was  read  by  the  Rev. 
Henry  N.  Cobb,  and  sung  by  the  congregation.  The  Scripture 
Lesson,  the  84th  Psalm,  was  read  by  Dr.  Tucker. 

Dr.  Mix  gave  a  brief  account  of  the  formation  of  the  new 
church  whose  house  of  worship  was  to  be  dedicated.  He  offered 
to  the  little  church  the  congratulations  of  the  Presbytery,  of  the 
Church  Extension  Committee,  and  especially  of  the  First  Church 
in  Orange,  within  whose  parish  limits  St.  Cloud  was  formerly 
embraced.  This,  he  said,  is  Presbyterian  ground.  From  the  time 
that  the  first  settlement  was  made  here,  the  people  went  down  the 
mountain  to  worship  in  the  First  Church;  and  here  the  pastors 
of  that  church,  especially  the  sainted  Dr.  Hillyer,  often  came  to 
preach  and  to  attend  meetings  for  social  worship.  It  was  eminently 


St.  Cloud  Church  31 

fitting,  therefore,  that  upon  this  spot  a  new  Presbyterian  Church 
should  be  established. 

The  hymn,  "I  love  Thy  Kingdom,  Lord,"  was  sung,  after 
which  the  prayer  of  dedication  was  offered  by  Dr.  Aikman.  The 
hymn,  "Arise,  0  king  of  grace,  arise,"  was  next  sung;  and  then 
came  the  sermon  by  Dr.  Adams,  President  of  Union  Theological 
Seminary.  His  text  was  taken  from  the  26th  Psalm  and  eighth 
verse : 

"Lord  I  have  loved  the  habitation  of  Thy  house  and  the  place 
where  Thine  honor  dwelleth;"  also  from  St.  Matthew,  18th  chap- 
ter and  20th  verse:  "For  where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together 
in  my  name  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them."  After  referring  to 
the  circumstances  under  which  the  above  words  were  written,  he 
gave  an  interesting  account  of  the  building  of  the  Tabernacle — 
the  only  building  on  earth  which  had  God  for  its  architect — of 
the  building  of  the  First  Temple  on  Mount  Zion  and  its  destruc- 
tion; then  of  the  building  of  the  Second  Temple  on  the  ruins  of 
the  first,  which  was  so  far  inferior  to  the  first  as  to  draw  tears 
from  those  who  had  known  its  glory.  He  then  referred  to  the 
prophecy  of  Haggai,  who  said  that  the  glory  of  the  Second  Temple 
would  far  surpass  that  of  the  first.  The  fulfillment  of  that 
prophecy  came  with  Christ,  who  preached  for  the  first  time  within 
its  walls.  He  then  showed  how  God  manifested  Himself  to  His 
people.  In  the  old  time  the  Divine  Presence  was  seen  by  the  eyes 
of  man  and  His  words  were  heard  by  mortal  ears.  In  the  present 
age  God  does  not  manifest  Himself  to  the  senses,  but  His  presence 
is  not  less  evident.  He  referred  to  special  occasions  when  God's 
presence  had  been  manifested;  when  the  preaching  of  such  men 
as  John  Knox,  Jonathan  Edwards  and  others  had  been  attended 
by  great  results,  hundreds  of  converts  having  been  made  through 
the  Divine  Presence.  In  conclusion  he  urged  that  as  the  church 
had  been  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God,  those  who  belonged  to 


32  St.  Cloud  Church 

it  or  attended  there  should  dedicate  themselves  to  God.  .  .  .  the 
dedicatory  passages  were  especially  impressive. 

The  hymn,  "Within  these  walls  let  holy  peace  and  concord 
dwell,"  was  next  sung,  and  then  General  McClellan  came  forward 
to  make  a  statement  of  the  financial  affairs  of  the  new  church. 
Hymn  526  was  sung  and  the  services  closed  with  the  benediction, 
pronounced  by  Dr.  Mabon. 

The  following  is  the  financial  report  read  by  General  Mc- 
Clellan at  the  dedication  services: 

1.  Church  building,  including  pews  and  pulpit, 

as  per  contract $6,500.00 

2.  Sundry  extras   322.87 

3.  Draining  and  grading  the  land 335.70 

4.  Fence   80.67 

5.  Lightning  rod 42.00 

6.  Architect's  commission  242.50 


$7,523.74 


All  this  was  entirely  paid  for  at  the  time,  but  about  $850  was 
needed  to  complete  the  enterprise  in  the  way  of  erecting  sheds, 
furnace,  and  lights. 

"The  contributions  of  money  were  received  from  fifty  indi- 
viduals of  all  ages,  and  various  denominations,  representing  the 
following  nations:  The  United  States,  Germany,  England,  Scot- 
land, Ireland,  Switzerland,  France  and  China. 

"In  making  his  report.  General  McClellan  remarked  that  the 
foregoing  facts  were  an  evidence  that  at  last  the  time  was  coming 
when  people  would  seek  to  discover  the  things  upon  which  they 
could  agree,  and  to  avoid  the  things  about  which  they  disagree." 

The  unusual  nature  of  the  report  made  a  deep  impression  upon 


St.  Cloud  Church  33 

a  life-long  friend  of  the  church,  who  expressed  her  feeling  in  the 
following  words: 

"When  the  service  of  dedication  was  finished,  General  Mc- 
Clellan  came  forward  and  told  what  was  very  good  to  hear,  that 
this  beautiful  house  for  God's  service  had  been  built  in  honesty 
as  well  as  in  love;  that  people  had  given  money  and  labor,  time 
and  thought,  at  once  and  without  reserve,  and  that  it  was  truly 
God's  house  which  'owed  no  man  anything.'  That  was  a  very 
good  foundation  upon  which  to  begin  God's  service." 


34  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  VII. 

A  short  description  of  the  architecture  of  the  church  may  be 
of  interest. 

The  main  dimensions  of  the  interior  are  28  by  51  feet,  not 
including  an  ample  platform  for  the  pulpit,  and  an  organ 
chamber,  vestry  room  and  porches.  This  gives  a  comfortable  seat- 
ing capacity  of  about  230.  The  treatment  of  the  exterior  is  of 
the  most  simple  character  possible,  the  effects  having  been  reached 
by  the  consideration  of  the  main  lines  of  the  building  and  the 
color  of  the  stone  and  woodwork.  The  stone  employed  comes 
from  Newark,  is  of  a  light  brown  color,  laid  in  the  wall  with  a 
rock  face,  the  appearance  of  trimmed  stone  being  attained  by  the 
tool-dressing  of  the  window  arches,  string  courses,  etc.,  giving 
a  difference  of  texture  to  those  points  which  were  desired  to  be 
accentuated.  The  main  feature  of  the  building  is  a  low  frame 
tower  with  shingled  sides  and  a  pointed  roof.  This  tower  cuts 
through  the  ridge  of  the  roof  near  the  west  end,  where  two  low 
porches  flank  its  base,  used  as  entrances  to  the  church.  Under  the 
cornice  of  the  tower  is  a  row  of  small  square  windows,  which  are 
filled  with  stained  glass,  and  besides  throwing  a  pleasant  light 
into  the  church  below,  greatly  add  to  its  ventilation.  On  the  east 
end,  the  vestry-room,  semi-circular  dormer  over  the  pulpit  and  the 
organ  chamber,  serve  to  break  up  the  lines  of  the  building.  The 
apexes  of  the  various  roofs  are  crowned  with  wrought  iron  finials 
after  the  style  in  vogue  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  some* 
what  resembling  sun-flowers. 

The  color  used  upon  the  outside  wood  work  is  very  subdued, 
harmonizing  with  the  stone  work,  yet  clearly  indicating  the 
material.  The  style  of  the  building  throughout  is  in  character  with 


St.  Cloud  Church  35 

early  English  design,  but  the  liberty  given  in  picturesque  archi- 
tecture has  been  taken  advantage  of  in  many  places. 

The  interior  throughout,  excepting  the  roof  framing,  is  fin- 
ished with  hard  wood.  The  roof  is  ceiled  with  narrow  strips  of 
white  ash,  the  trusses  and  other  framing  being  left  exposed.  All 
the  roof  timbering  is  wrought  and  moulded,  and  is  stained  to  sug- 
gest mahogany,  although  not  intended  to  imitate  it.  There  is  a 
wainscot  4^/2  ^^et  high  around  the  interior,  and  the  pew  ends  are 
designed  in  character  with  the  general  finish.  The  pews  occupy 
the  centre  of  the  building,  all  of  which  is  covered  by  a  rich  floor- 
ing of  English  tiles,  beautiful  both  in  design  and  color.  The  glass 
throughout,  furnished  and  designed  by  Mr.  Booth,  of  Orange,  is 
particularly  satisfactory,  being  exceedingly  effective,  and  all  the 
more  creditable  considering  its  cost  and  simplicity.  The  beauty 
of  the  glass  is  especially  noticeable  in  the  windows  at  the  top  of 
the  tower,  which  open  through  the  roof  into  the  church,  forming 
the  most  effective  feature  of  the  whole.  The  organ  made  by  the 
Holborn  L.  Roosevelt  Company  is  a  beautiful  instrument,  and 
although  small,  is  rich  in  tone  and  pure  in  quality.  Its  power 
seems  carefully  considered  with  regard  to  the  size  of  the  church. 

The  building  should  be  criticized  architecturally  with  reference 
to  its  moderate  cost  and  the  accommodation  it  furnishes. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  here  an  incident  referred  to  by  Mr. 
Whitaker  in  his  anniversary  sermon  on  the  occasion  of  the  church's 
Silver  Jubilee.  It  relates  to  the  history  of  the  illuminated  motto: 
"I  will  come  to  you,"  which  is  mentioned  above  as  painted  in  the 
rear  of  the  pulpit  at  the  time  of  the  dedication  of  the  building. 
"Before  the  edifice  was  finished,"  he  says,  "there  occurred  an  event 
which  was  one  of  the  illustrations  of  that  happy  Christian  fellow- 
ship which  has  been  characteristic  of  the  life  of  this  church.  On 
Sunday,  June  24,  1877,  Dr.  Thomas  D.  Anderson,  pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  New  York  City,  occupied  the  pulpit.     His 


36  St.  Cloud  Church 

text  was:  *I  will  come  to  you.'  John  14:18.  The  aptness  of  the 
message,  the  tenderness  of  the  presentation,  appealed  to  all;  and 
by  common  consent,  this  text  of  Dr.  Anderson  was  chosen  to  be 
placed  on  the  wall  behind  the  pulpit.  Thence  it  has  looked  down 
upon  the  congregation  for  a  quarter  of  a  century." 


St.  Cloud  Church  37 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


The  church  thus  erected  and  dedicated  was  not  long  without 
a  pastor.  The  Rev.  J.  0.  Averill,  a  recent  graduate  of  Union 
Seminary,  supplied  the  pulpit  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  fall 
the  Rev.  William  Force  Whitaker  was  called.  On  the  afternoon 
of  Thursday,  November  22nd,  1877,  he  was  installed  with  the  cus- 
tomary ceremonies  by  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange.  The 
moderator  of  the  Presbytery,  Dr.  Parker,  of  Parsippany,  presided. 
Previous  to  the  public  services  of  installation,  the  Presbytery  met 
at  the  church  and  received  Mr.  Whitaker  as  one  of  their  number. 
Most  of  the  members  present  arrived  in  Orange  on  the  12:25 
train  and  were  driven  to  the  mountain,  where  they  were  enter- 
tained at  lunch  by  Governor  McClellan. 

The  little  church  was  well  filled  and  beautifully  decorated 
with  palms  and  flowers.  The  service  began  with  an  invocation 
by  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Hillman,  of  Morris  Plains,  a  classmate  of  Mr. 
Whitaker.  Dr.  Yeomans,  of  the  Central  Church,  Orange,  read  the 
Scriptures  and  followed  with  prayer;  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Green,  of  the 
First  Church,  Morristown,  preached  the  sermon;  Dr.  Adams 
offered  the  prayer  of  installation;  Dr.  Epher  Whitaker,  father  of 
the  newly  settled  pastor,  delivered  the  charge  to  his  son;  and  the 
Rev.  J.  A.  Ferguson,  of  Hanover,  gave  the  charge  to  the  people. 
After  a  hymn,  the  new  pastor  pronounced  the  benediction. 

The  services  were  exceedingly  appropriate  and  impressive 
throughout.  The  sermon  was  a  clear,  logical,  and  forcible  pre- 
sentation of  the  contrast  between  the  law  and  the  gospel,  from 
Romans  10:4.  The  charge  to  the  pastor  was  a  most  touching  and 
tender  address  from  a  father  who  had  been  long  in  the  ministry, 
to  his  first-born  son  just  entering  the  pastoral  ofi&ce.  It  was  full 
of  wise  counsels,  drawn  from  his  own  rich  experience  as  a  most 


38  St.  Cloud  Church 

faithful  and  successful  pastor.  His  allusions  in  the  beginning 
of  his  charge  to  the  relations  which  had  existed  between  them  from 
his  childhood  up  to  the  present  hour,  and  his  expressions  of  joy 
and  gratitude  in  being  permitted  to  see  this  hour,  and  in  being 
permitted  to  charge  his  son  upon  his  entrance  into  the  pastoral 
oflSce,  were  very  affecting.  It  is  something  not  often  witnessed, 
a  father  giving  an  address  to  his  son  upon  his  induction  into  this 
sacred  office,  and  none  who  heard  it  will  forget  the  impressive 
scene. 

The  charge  to  the  people  was  equally  good  and  appropriate, 
and,  being  delivered  by  a  near  neighbor  and  warm  personal  friend 
of  Mr.  Whitaker,  was  listened  to  with  special  interest  and  pleasure. 
Mr.  Ferguson  accurately  portrayed  the  duties  and  responsibilities 
which  devolved  upon  the  congregation,  and  showed  how  they 
could  aid  their  pastor  by  holding  up  his  hands  and  relieving  him 
of  all  burdens  except  the  burden  imposed  upon  him  by  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

The  new  church,  now  fully  equipped  for  its  work,  with  a  set- 
tled pastor  maintained  regular  Sabbath  and  week-day  services 
from  this  time  on  both  in  summer  and  winter.  Not  a  dollar  of 
debt  had  been  incurred,  and  its  financial  condition  was  most 
healthful  and  encouraging.  The  congregation  adopted  the  volun- 
tary plan  of  church  contributions,  and  the  income  pledged  for  the 
succeeding  year  amounted  to  about  $1,900. 

The  new  pastor  not  only  found  a  warm  welcome  from  his 
people,  but  was  greeted  by  his  fellow-ministers  as  a  valuable  addi-' 
tion  to  their  number. 


St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  IX. 

One  of  his  first  duties  was  the  pleasant  one  of  preaching  the 
Christmas  sermon.  Christmasses  at  St.  Cloud  have  been  enjoy- 
able, as  can  readily  be  seen  from  accounts  which  have  been  pre- 
served of  the  two  first  Christmas  celebrations,  1877  and  1878. 

In  1877,  we  read  that  Christmas  came  on  Friday  evening.  The 
following  program  was  given: 

Anthem— "Joy  to  the  World." 

Prayer. 

Reading  of  the  Scripture. 

Carol— "While  Shepherds  Watched." 

Address — Mr.  Robert  P.  Anderson. 

Carol — "Venite  Adoremus." 

Address — Mr.  John  Crosby  Brown. 

Carol — "Gather  Around  the  Christmas  Tree." 

Illumination  of  the  Tree. 

Distribution  of  gifts. 

Address — Rev.  William  F.  Whitaker. 

Carol — "Farewell  to  Thee,  0  Christmas  Tree." 

Hymn— "Praise  the  Lord." 

The  Christmas-tree  was  brilliantly  illuminated  and  hung  with 
gifts  for  all  the  members  of  the  school.  The  usual  good  things 
to  eat  followed,  and  the  children  spent  a  delightful  evening.  The 
school  at  that  time  numbered  about  eighty  members. 

Service  was  held  in  the  church  on  Christmas  Day.  Mr. 
Whitaker  preached  a  sermon  descriptive  of  the  life  of  our  Lord. 
The  church  was  tastefully  decorated  with  evergreens,  which  were 
festooned  along  the  side  walls,  and  the  words  "A  Merry  Christ- 


40  St.  Cloud  Church 

mas  to  you  all"  in  greens  were  hung  upon  the  rear  wall  facing 
the  pulpit. 

In  1878,  the  celebration  of  both  church  and  Sunday  School 
was  held  on  the  evening  of  the  27th.  The  preparations  were 
somewhat  more  elaborate  than  those  of  the  previous  year.  A  tall 
tree  stood  at  the  front  of  the  audience  room,  hung  with  various 
adornments,  gilt  chains,  silver  cords,  cornucopias,  etc.;  twenty 
dozen  candles  gave  it  a  bright  illumination.  At  the  right  of  the 
tree  a  large  fireplace  and  chimney  of  antique  design  were  erected. 
Above  the  red  bricks  ran  a  mantelpiece  upon  which  old-fashioned 
candlesticks,  goose-feather  fans,  pewter  plates,  etc.,  were  placed. 
A  row  of  stockings  hung  from  the  mantel.  The  Saint  of  the  sea- 
son, Nicholas,  made  his  appearance  from  this  fireplace.  Only  a 
few  knew  of  his  visit — he  surprised  the  children.  The  exercises 
embrace  the  following: 

Carol— "Brightest  and  Best." 

Invocation. 

Scriptures. 

Hymn — "Gloria  in  Excelsis." 

Also  a  Christmas  Cantata  by  Mabel  Condit,  Lillie  Williams  and 
Bertha  Condit,  which  included  an  invitation,  a  dialogue,  in  which 
the  historic  facts  of  the  Christmas  festival  were  noted,  carols  for 
the  whole  school,  etc.  A  Christmas  poem,  "Karl  and  Gretchen," 
was  read  by  the  superintendent,  Mr.  Brown.  After  addresses  by 
adults  there  were  recitations  by  the  boys:  "If  I  were  Santa  Claus," 
by  Robert  H.  Rogers,  and  "  'Twas  the  Night  Before  Christmas," 
by  William  Adams  Brown.  Santa  Claus,  the  illumination  of  the 
tree,  distribution  of  gifts,  etc.,  followed. 

Between  these  two  Christmas  celebrations  (1877  and  1878) 
occurred  another  of  an  interesting  character  of  which,  fortunately, 


St.  Cloud  Church  41 

it  is  possible  to  secure  detailed  descriptions.  This  was  Children's 
Day,  which  has  always  been  important  in  the  history  of  the  St. 
Cloud  Church.  Falling,  as  it  does,  on  the  second  Sunday  of  June, 
it  comes  so  soon  after  the  church's  own  anniversary  that  the  two 
occasions  have  always  been  celebrated  together.  The  whole  subject 
of  the  St.  Cloud  anniversaries  and  their  celebration  is  taken  up 
elsewhere,  but  this  account  of  the  Children's  Service  at  St.  Cloud 
in  June,  1878,  shows  the  early  origin  of  the  habit  of  combining 
celebrations. 

"The  exercises  at  St.  Cloud  Church  on  Sunday  morning  last 
were  of  a  most  interesting  character,  whether  considered  as  ad- 
dressed to  eye  or  ear,  to  heart  or  understanding.  It  was  the  chil- 
dren's service,  and  was  intended  to  celebrate  the  anniversary  of 
the  founding  of  the  church,  though  a  little  later  in  the  season 
than  that  anniversary  actually  occurred.  The  church  was  well 
filled  by  the  children  and  their  friends  before  the  hour  appointed. 
After  singing,  and  repeating  the  Lord's  prayer,  the  classes  of  the 
Sunday  School,  with  their  teachers,  passed  out  as  their  names  were 
called,  re-entering  shortly  to  the  sound  of  music  through  the  two 
doors  of  the  church,  the  boys  on  one  side  and  girls  on  the  other. 
The  school  numbered  ninety,  and  consisted  of  fourteen  classes, 
including  two  of  adults.  Each  class  had  a  name  and  correspond- 
ing emblem,  and  each  came  in  bearing  a  bright  banner,  on  which 
this  name  was  inscribed.  As  the  classes  took  their  places  in  the 
seats  assigned  to  them,  the  banners  were  ranged  along  the  walls 
of  the  church,  forming  with  the  bright  flowers  a  most  pleasing 
effect.  In  his  opening  address,  the  superintendent  happily  alluded 
to  the  custom  among  Jewish  parents  of  taking  their  children  with 
them  after  a  certain  age  to  attend  the  annual  festivals  at  Jerusalem 
(shown  by  our  Lord's  presence  in  the  Temple  at  twelve  years  of 
age),  and  spoke  of  the  propriety  of  Christian  parents  allowing 
their  children  to  join  them  in  the  service  and  worship  of  the 


42  St.  Cloud  Church 

church.  He  wanted  the  children  to  consider  this  occasion  not 
merely  as  one  intended  for  their  gratification  and  pleasure,  but  as 
a  part  of  Christian  worship. 

"After  prayer,  offered  by  the  pastor,  each  class  in  turn  rose 
and  repeated  a  text  of  Scripture,  immediately  after  which  one 
member  advanced  to  the  desk  bearing  the  emblem  of  the  class. 
The  pastor,  after  receiving  it  and  consigning  it  to  its  appointed 
place  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  made  a  short  address  to  each  class, 
basing  his  thought  upon  the  verses  which  had  been  adopted  as 
their  motto,  and  had  been  repeated  by  them. 

"The  'Truth  Seekers,'  as  the  men's  Bible  class  was  called,  be- 
gan the  exercise.  'Buy  the  truth  and  sell  it  not'  was  forcibly 
uttered  simultaneously  by  a  company  of  intelligent  looking  men, 
the  oldest  among  them,  a  venerable  man  of  eighty,  advancing  and 
bearing  on  a  cushion  the  emblem  of  the  class,  a  well-preserved 
Bible.  Then  came  the  'Gospel  Soldiers,'  with  their  sword,  the 
'Youthful  Reapers'  with  their  sickle,  the  'Fruit  Gatherers'  with 
their  grapes,  and  finally  twenty-five  'Little  Sunbeams'  forming  the 
infant  class.  The  'Little  Pilgrims'  with  their  staff  and  motto, 
'Here  we  have  no  continuing  city  nor  abiding  place,'  called  forth 
from  the  pastor  an  allusion  to  the  children's  crusade  of  five  hun- 
dred years  ago,  while  he  seemed  to  regard  the  'Little  Branches' 
with  a  peculiarly  tender  interest  from  the  fact  that  the  only  death 
which  had  occurred  in  the  Sunday  School  had  been  among  them. 

"The  exercises  were  varied  and  enlivened  by  occasional  sing- 
ing, and  each  class  brought  its  offering  of  money,  amounting  in  all 
to  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  dollars. 

"Dr.  Adams  closed  the  service  with  a  short  address.  He  had 
been  quite  unprepared,  he  said,  for  the  exercises  in  which  they 
had  just  engaged.  Instead  of  speaking  to  the  children,  he  had 
been  spoken  to  by  them,  in  a  most  impressive  manner,  and  he 


St.  Cloud  Church  43 

should  content  himself  with  repeating  the  poem  by  Keble,  begin- 
ning: 

"Oh,  say  not,  dream  not  heavenly  notes 

To  childish  ears  are  vain; 
That  the  young  mind  at  random  floats 

And  cannot  reach  the  strain." 


44  St.  Cloud  Church 

CHAPTER  X. 

Mention  has  frequently  been  made  in  the  preceding  pages  of 
the  unusual  beauty  and  taste  of  the  floral  decorations  upon  various 
occasions.  The  eff'ectiveness  of  these  decorations  reached  its 
height  in  two  unique  services  in  this  and  the  following  year, 
1878  and  1879.  A  "Harvest  Home  Celebration"  and  a  "Praise 
Service  of  the  Flowers"  both  seem  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  char- 
acter of  the  little  mountain  church,  and  both  occasions  were  most 
successful.  An  enthusiastic  eye-witness  of  the  former  celebration 
on  October  10th,  1878,  gives  the  following  account  of  his  impres- 
sions, speaking  of  it  as  "a  very  successful  and  pleasing  occasion." 
"It  is  not,"  he  continues,  "until  we  have  brought  together  the 
various  fruits  of  the  trees,  and  of  the  ground,  that  we  realize 
their  variety  and  abundance.  The  decoration  of  the  church  with 
flowers  and  fruits,  with  grains  and  vines,  nuts  and  gourds,  was 
something  superb.  The  result  makes  one  think  how  rich  and 
ample  is  the  provision  of  Dame  Nature  to  beautfy,  which  by  skill- 
ful handling  can  give  both  pleasure  and  instruction  without 
expense." 

He  goes  on  to  describe  in  more  detail  the  way  in  which  this 
effect  of  abundance  and  beauty  was  produced.  "Over  the  pulpit 
was  a  cross  of  bleached  ferns  on  a  maroon  ground.  On  either  side 
were  decorations  of  autumn  leaves,  in  shapes  of  Gothic  windows. 
Below  and  at  the  back  of  the  pupit  were  in  effective  contrast, 
twenty-four  different  kinds  of  vegetables.  Golden  pumpkins 
glowed  against  the  green  neighboring  cabbages,  and  squashes 
stood  up  boldly  among  cucumbers,  cauliflowers  and  beans.  Red 
and  green  peppers  bore  themselves  saucily  among  the  meeker 
potatoes,  turnips  and  carrots.  Wheat,  rye,  oats  and  Indian  corn 
added  their  graceful  beauty  wherever  they  were  needed.     There 


St.  Cloud  Church  45 

were  eight  different  kinds  of  fruit;  even  strawberries  came  forth 
at  this  late  day  to  add  their  spicy  sweetness  to  the  general  harvest. 
Nuts  in  seven  varieties  were  seen,  hiding  beneath  rough  shelled 
kernels  of  sweet  meat.  A  whole  long  grape-vine  had  been  cut 
down  with  numberless  branches  of  grapes  and  festooned  from  the 
roof  in  the  center  of  the  church.  Between  the  wide  windows  were 
wreaths  of  nuts  and  creeping  vines,  and  below,  various  colored 
vegetables.  Over  the  doors,  at  the  side  entrance,  in  scarlet  flowers 
on  a  ground  of  ferns,  was  the  motto  'Peace,'  on  the  other  side 
'Plenty'  was  worked  out  in  grain  and  corn.  Beneath  the  memorial 
window  was  a  huge  cornucopia,  dressed  with  shaded  grains,  pour- 
ing out  its  wealth  of  fruits  on  a  scarlet  ground,  trimmed  with 
bleached  ferns  and  silk  of  the  corn.  Over  the  same  window,  in 
letters  made  of  cranberries,  was  the  inscription  from  Exodus 
23:19:  'The  first  of  the  first  fruits,'  etc.  Over  all,  on  a  beam, 
in  large  scarlet  letters,  on  a  gray  ground,  dressed  in  scarlet  flowers 
and  with  ferns,  was  the  inscription  'Harvest  Home,'  and  over 
the  door  leading  into  the  vestry,  a  sheaf  of  wheat  tied  with  a 
black  ribbon." 

The  service  was  quaint,  homely,  and  full  of  interest.  After 
prayer,  scripture  lesson,  and  hymn,  came  a  recitation  of  harvest 
texts  by  school  and  pastor,  Mr.  Whitaker  reading  one  from  the 
Old  Testament,  and  the  children  responding  with  one  from  the 
New.  "The  pastor,"  we  read,  "then  gave  an  account  of  the  Jewish 
feast  of  Tabernacles,  which  was  listened  to  by  old  and  young  with 
interest.  Mr.  Brown  followed  with  a  short,  but  very  felicitous 
address  on  fruit,  in  which  he  spoke  so  warmly  of  the  love  God  has 
manifested  towards  us  that  every  heart  must  have  glowed  with  a 
fresh  devotion.  A  hymn  was  then  sung,  which  was  followed  by  a 
report  from  the  pastor  of  the  results  of  the  planting  of  the  "mis- 
sionary corn."  In  the  spring  the  children — many  of  them — 
planted  a  few  hills  of  corn  which  was  to  be  used  for  some  mission- 


46  St.  Cloud  Church 

ary  purpose.  Mr.  Whitaker  interested  two  of  the  boys  in  making 
estimates  of  the  rates  of  increase  the  corn  had  attained.  One  of 
these  reports  was  by  William  Adams  Brown,  then  twelve  years 
old: 

"On  land  bounded  by  the  front  of  the  church,  the  road  and 
the  two  carriage  ways,"  he  writes,  "had  been  planted  180  hills  of 
corn.  These  produced  710  ears  (an  average  of  nearly  four  ears 
to  a  hill).  Now,  as  five  kernels  were  planted  in  each  hill,  of 
course  900  kernels  were  sown.  Supposing  each  ear  contained  360 
kernels,  the  180  hills  have  produced  710x360  kernels;  i.  e.,  255,- 
600  kernels." 

Then  follows  an  estimate  of  the  space  these  kernels  would 
occupy  if  placed  touching  each  other  in  a  straight  line,  and  nearly 
one  and  three-fifths  miles  is  the  result. 

"Now  as  900  kernels,"  continues  our  youthful  calculator, 
"were  sown,  and  255,600  were  produced,  each  kernel  brought 
forth  284  kernels." 

The  report  of  N.  E.  Condit  includes  the  corn  planted  in  other 
places  besides  that  which  Master  Brown  considered.  Master  Con- 
dit computes  the  increase  of  the  "Missionary  Corn"  throughout 
the  parish: 

"Since  there  were  720  hills  of  corn  planted  in  the  parish,"  he 
writes,  "and  there  were  five  kernels  to  the  hill,  there  would  be 
five  times  720  hills — 3,600  kernels.  The  yield  was  2,810  ears; 
with  the  average  of  360  kernels  to  the  ear,  there  must  be  as  many 
kernels  as  360  times  2,810,  or  1,011,600."  Continuing  this  com- 
putation Master  Condit  finds  that  "if  the  kernels  were  placed  in  a 
straight  line  it  would  stretch  over  6  2/5  miles  of  ground." 

After  this  report  Dr.  Adams  made  an  address,  in  which  he 
expressed  the  pleasure  he  always  experienced  on  the  return  of 
autumn.  In  a  strain  half  facetious  and  half  in  tender  earnest,  he 
spoke  of  the  decorations  of  the  building;  of  the  homely  virtues  of 
the  vegetables  which  were  brought  into  unwonted  honor  at  that 
time.  He  contrasted  the  condition  of  this  community,  where 
health  and  abundance  prevail,  with  the  terrible  state  of  things  at 
the  South,  where  men,  women  and  children  are  dying  from  disease. 


St.  Cloud  Church  47 

In  his  own  graceful  way  he  paid  a  happy  tribute  to  the  occasion 
and  to  those  whose  efforts  had  made  it  so  successful.    These  first 
fruits  which  had  served  to  decorate  the  house  of  God  were,  he 
told  us,  to  be  sent  to  gladden  the  orphans  of  Orange. 
He  then  recited  the  following  poem: 

THE  GRAIN  OF  CORN 

A  grain  of  corn  an  infant's  hand 

May  plant  upon  an  inch  of  land; 

Whence  twenty  stalks  may  spring  and  yield 

Enough  to  stock  a  little  field. 

The  harvest  of  that  field  might  then 

Be  multiplied  by  ten  times  ten; 

Which  sown  thrice  more  would  furnish  bread 

Wherewith  an  army  might  be  fed. 

A  penny  is  a  little  thing, 

Which  e'en  the  poor  man's  child  may  fling 

Into  the  treasury  of  heaven, 

And  make  it  worth  its  weight  in  gold, 

And  that  increased  a  million  fold. 

For  lo,  a  penny  tract  if  well 

Applied  may  save  a  soul  from  hell. 

That  soul  can  scarce  be  saved  alone; 

It  must,  it  will  its  bliss  make  known. 

Come,  it  will  cry,  and  you  shall  see 

What  great  things  God  has  done  for  me. 

Hundreds  that  joyful  sound  shall  hear. 

Hear  with  the  heart  as  well  as  ear; 

And  these  to  thousands  more  proclaim 

Salvation  in  the  "Only  Name," 

Till  every  tongue  shall  gladly  call 

On  Jesus  as  the  Lord  of  all. 

While  he  was  speaking  a  few  young  girls  were  seen  to  leave 
the  house.    Shortly  after  the  close  of  his  remarks  they  reappeared 


48  St.  Cloud  Church 

and  ascended  the  platform.  They  were  eight  in  number  and  a 
young  lady  teacher  was  with  them.  Each  child  represented  a 
gleaner.  She  was  dressed  in  white  and  bore  a  basket  of  fruit, 
flowers,  leaves,  grain,  or  something  similar.  Advancing  a  step, 
each  one  in  turn  presented  her  gift  to  the  teacher,  prefacing  the 
act  by  the  recitation  of  a  verse  of  poetry.  The  gift  was  acknowl- 
edged by  a  poetical  response  and  an  appropriate  wreath  bestowed 
upon  the  gleaner.  This  was  an  exceedingly  pretty  scene.  At  its 
close  the  audience  was  invited  to  join  in  singing 

THE  GLEANER'S  SONG. 

O  Thou,  whose  eyes  of  love 
Look  on  us  from  above; 

Low  at  Thy  throne 
We  kneel  tonight,  and  pray 
That,  gleaning  day  by  day. 
Our  grateful  hearts  alway 

Thy  hand  may  own. 
And  when  beneath  the  trees. 
In  fairer  fields  than  these. 

Our  glad  feet  roam. 
There,  where  the  bright  harps  ring. 
May  we  our  gleanings  bring. 
And  in  Thy  presence  sing. 

Our  Harvest  Home. 

On  leaving  the  church,  the  congregation  was  invited  to  partake 
of  substantial  refreshments  which  had  been  hospitably  provided. 
Earth,  air,  and  sky  contributed  their  best  to  the  festival,  and  every- 
one departed,  having  enjoyed  a  service  happy  in  conception,  suc- 
cessful in  its  unfolding,  and  elevating  in  its  memories. 


St.  Cloud  Church  49 


CHAPTER  XL 

The  second  celebration  referred  to  above — the  "Praise  Service 
of  the  Flowers" — was  held  in  October  of  the  following  year.  For 
three  years  the  people  of  St.  Cloud  had  been  in  the  habit  of  gath- 
ering wild  flowers  on  Sunday  afternoons  in  the  summer  months, 
which,  on  Monday  mornings,  were  sent  on  to  the  Flower  Mission 
in  New  York,  to  be  distributed  in  hospitals  and  in  tenements.  On 
this  particular  occasion,  October  24th,  1879,  in  response  to  the 
invitation  extended  by  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  a  large  number  of 
those  who  had  been  interested  in  sending  flowers  to  the  sick  in  New 
York,  met  on  Friday  afternoon.  Orange,  Orange  Valley,  West 
Orange,  and  more  distant  places  were  represented  in  the  gathering 
at  St.  Cloud. 

The  taste  and  industry  of  a  committee  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
were  manifest  in  the  many  floral  designs  and  decorations  that 
adorned  the  interior  of  the  church.  The  pulpit,  font,  organ,  win- 
dow sills,  and  walls  were  bright  with  salvia,  and  vines  appeared 
above  the  pulpit.  All  parts  of  the  programme  had  special  refer- 
ence to  the  beauty  and  mission  of  flowers.  The  pastor  read  appro- 
priate passages  of  scripture  and  offered  prayer.  A  beautiful 
poem,  entitled,  "The  Praise  Meeting  of  the  Flowers,"  which  sug- 
gested the  name  for  this  service,  was  read  by  Dr.  T.  D.  Anderson, 
of  New  York.  "The  Transplanted  Flower,"  a  touching  story  by 
the  Danish  writer  for  children,  Hans  Christian  Andersen,  was  read 
by  Dr.  W.  V.  Mabon.  A  poem,  "The  Angel's  Story,"  by  Miss 
A.  A.  Proctor,  and  founded  upon  this  tale,  followed  by  the  pastor. 
Eight  selected  poems  upon  the  seasons  and  their  appropriate  flow- 
ers were  recited  by  girls  dressed  in  white,  standing  upon  the  plat- 
form in  a  semi-circle: 

"Spring" — Bertha  Condit. 


50  St.  Cloud  Church 

"The  Violet"— Minnie  Kindsgrab. 

"Summer" — Bessie  Brown. 

"The  Clover"— Lucilla  Moore. 

"Autumn"— Lillie  Williams. 

"The  Fringed  Gentian" — May  Brown. 

"Winter"— Adele  Russell. 

"Winter  Flowers"— Mabel  Condit. 

Letters  of  great  interest  and  encouragement,  written  by  those 
who  have  distributed  the  flowers  among  the  sick  and  suffering  in 
New  York,  were  read  by  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School. 
A  report  of  the  many  cases  of  special  interest,  prepared  by  Miss 
E.  E.  Russell,  the  secretary  of  the  New  York  Flower  Mission,  who 
was  present  at  this  meeting,  was  much  appreciated. 

Miss  Gee,  of  Orange,  sang  "The  White  Daisy."  The  Rev. 
Joseph  A.  Ely,  of  Orange  Valley,  made  a  short  address,  presenting 
in  many  beautiful  illustrations  the  value  of  those  messages  which 
loving  hands  and  Christian  hearts  can  send,  through  the  tiny 
bouquets  of  flowers,  to  many  homes  of  sorrow  and  sadness.  He 
used  the  following  appropriate  illustration : 

"At  Hildesheim,  there  is  a  rose-bush  which  is  known  to  be  800 
years  old,  and  which,  it  is  claimed,  was  planted  by  Charlemagne. 
It  covers  the  rear  wall  of  the  cathedral  with  the  net-work  of  its 
branches.  Its  roots,  however,  run  beneath  the  wall  and  are  shel- 
tered under  the  altar  of  the  crypt.  So  the  root  of  this  sweet 
charity,  which  has  covered  so  many  desolate  places  with  beauty, 
are  hidden  under  the  altar;  they  spring  from  beneath  the  Cross, 
and  are  fed  from  that  Love  which  laid  down  its  life  for  us,  that 
we  in  turn  might  lay  down  our  lives  for  others." 

After  Dr.  Ely's  address  Dr.  Adams  spoke  briefly,  closing  his 


St.  Cloud  Church  51 

remarks  with  a  poem  of  Mary  Howitt's,  of  which  this  is  the  first 
stanza : 

God  might  have  made  the  earth  bring  forth 

Enough  for  great  and  small, 
The  oak-tree  and  the  cedar-tree, 

Without  a  flower  at  all. 

A  report  from  the  New  York  Flower  Mission  was  next  read, 
showing  that  140,000  bouquets  had  been  received  during  the  previ- 
ous season.  These  were  distributed  in  102  hospitals,  asylums, 
missions,  etc.,  and  among  the  thousands  of  sick  in  the  tenements. 
The  donors  were  urged  to  remember  Christmas  time  in  the  city 
hospitals  and  asylums,  etc.,  to  send  gifts  of  ivy,  potted  plants, 
illuminated  texts,  a  few  days  before  Christmas. 

The  service  closed  with  the  singing  of  a  hymn. 

This  work  of  charity  continued  for  many  years,  but  another 
"Praise  Service  of  the  Flowers"  was  not  held  until  1906,  the  thir- 
tieth anniversary  of  the  Flower  Mission  at  St.  Cloud.  This  second 
service  was  quite  similar  to  the  one  described  above;  addresses 
were  made  by  the  pastor  and  by  Mr.  Brown;  the  scholars  gave  a 
number  of  Flow^er  Exercises — recitations,  songs,  etc. — and  a  letter 
from  Miss  Russell  of  the  New  York  Flower  Mission  was  read. 

Not  only  in  summer  did  gifts  go  out  from  the  St.  Cloud  Church 
to  homes  in  the  crowded  city.  A  "Giving  Festival,"  recorded  in 
the  year  1880,  was  the  first  in  a  long  series  of  such  occasions  in 
which  the  children  of  St.  Cloud  shared  their  Christmasses  with 
others.  In  1880,  the  festival  was  held  in  the  church  on  Wednes- 
day evening,  December  22nd.  In  front  of  the  pulpit,  tables  were 
arranged  for  the  reception  of  gifts;  above  the  pulpit  was  the 
motto:  "It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive,"  in  large  Old 
English  letters.     After  devotional  exercises,  the  roll  was  called 


52  St.  Cloud  Church 

and  the  scholars  brought  forward  the  various  articles  of  beauty 
and  utility,  and  very  soon  the  tables  were  filled.  Nearly  fifty 
books,  twenty  dressed  dolls,  more  than  forty  packages  of  pop- 
corn, nine  boxes  of  games,  ten  pairs  of  stockings,  as  many  pairs 
of  mittens,  gloves,  shawls,  knit  jackets,  handkerchiefs,  toys  in  great 
variety,  canned  fruit,  boxes  of  candy,  and  a  printing  press  were 
among  the  gifts.  After  all  these  had  been  presented  and  arranged 
upon  the  long  tables,  the  school  marched  past  and  saw  the  result 
of  giving. 

The  unique  way  in  which  these  gifts  were  distributed  deserves 
mention,  especially  as  it  brings  us  into  touch  with  a  veritable 
"saint."  To  quote  from  a  copy  of  the  Willing  Worker,  published 
in  1892:  "The  articles  were  distributed,  year  after  year,  under  the 
direction  of  one  for  thirty  years  confined  to  her  bed.  This  patient 
sufferer  and  useful  disciple,"  continues  the  account,  "is  Mrs. 
Bella  Cooke,  whom  many  of  us  have  visited  and  whose  picture 
hangs  over  the  door  in  the  pastor's  room.  To  her  sick-bed  come 
the  poor  boys  and  girls  who  receive  the  many  articles  sent  in  box 
or  barrel." 

In  1891  the  gifts  were  brought  to  the  church  and  sorted  and 
packed  on  Friday  evening,  December  18th.  Within  ten  days  a 
letter  of  thanks  came  from  Mrs.  Cooke.  It  was  written  by  her  own 
hand  and  gave  evidence  of  the  effort  it  had  cost  her.  At  the  top 
of  the  sheet  are  these  words:  "Kept  by  the  power  of  God."  The 
letter  is  as  follows:  "Yours  of  the  19th  came  duly  to  hand  with 
enclosure.  The  box  arrived  that  night  and  was  most  welcome,  and 
for  which  please  accept  my  thanks.  I  assure  you  the  things  were 
gladly  received  by  the  people,  and  I  pray  that  all  who  sent  may 
be  blessed  a  hundred-fold  in  this  life,  and  in  the  world  to  come 
may  have  life  everlasting.  I  would  love  to  write  a  long  letter, 
but  am  entirely  unable.  It  is  a  very  great  effort  to  write  this. 
With  sincere  thanks  to  all,  I  am  cordially  yours,  Bella  Cooke." 


St.  Cloud  Church  53 

It  is  beautiful  to  think  that  one  so  familiar  with  suffering 
should  have  had  this  opportunity  given  her  to  minister  to  the  need 
of  others. 


54  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XII. 


It  will  be  recalled  that  the  "Giving  Festival,"  just  referred  to, 
occurred  in  the  year  1880.  It  was  in  this  year  that  the  little  church 
lost  one  of  its  greatest  and  best  friends — Dr.  Adams.  His  death 
on  the  31st  of  August  deprived  the  lately-formed  organization  of 
the  loving  counsel  and  guidance  on  which  it  had  so  often  relied. 

A  simple  memorial  service  was  held  at  the  church  on  the  26th 
of  September,  1880,  at  the  close  of  which  a  marble  tablet  erected 
in  memory  of  Dr.  Adams  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Brown,  was  unveiled 
by  the  pastor  in  the  presence  of  the  family  and  a  large  congre- 
gation. The  tablet  of  black  Belgian  marble  is  placed  on  the  wall, 
very  near  the  seat  which  Dr.  Adams  usually  occupied.  The  in- 
scription is  carved  in  low  relief,  and  is  as  follows: 

In  memory  of  William  Adams,  D.D.,  L.L.D. 

August  31,  1880 

He,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh. 

After  the  unveiling  of  the  tablet.  General  McClellan,  an  elder 
of  the  church,  in  a  few  most  touching  words  presented  the  follow- 
ing minute,  written  by  him  and  previously  adopted  by  the  session: 

"From  the  very  beginning  of  this  church  our  lately  departed 
friend,  the  Reverend  William  Adams,  unceasingly  bore  an  active 
part  as  our  adviser  and  co-worker.  In  the  first  meeting  held  to 
initiate  our  organization,  in  the  dedication  of  our  building,  in  the 
selection  and  installation  of  our  pastor,  we  had  the  benefit  of  his 
ripe  experience,  his  wisdom  and  personal  influence. 

"From  our  pulpit  he  often  fed  the  flock  with  the  pure  word 
of  God,  and  during  the  summer  months  he  habitually  poured  forth 
at  the  communion  table  his  finished,  yet  most  simple  and  touching 


St.  Cloud  Church  55 

eloquence,  adding  new  significance  even  to  that  most  sacred  ofl&ce. 
His  personal  relations  with  this  little  flock  were  so  peculiarly 
close  and  affectionate,  that  it  seems  proper  to  record  for  the  benefit 
of  those  who  are  to  follow  us,  our  appreciation  of  the  transcendent 
virtues  of  such  a  brilliant  light  of  the  church,  and  our  keen  sense 
of  the  loss  we  have  sustained  in  common  with  the  whole  church. 
Our  God  pre-eminently  endowed  this.  His  faithful  servant,  with 
the  highest  and  noblest  qualities  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 
Gifted  with  intellectual  capacity  of  the  highest  order,  he  added 
conscientious  study  and  finished  cultivation,  so  that  he  stood 
in  the  foremost  rank  as  a  classical  scholar,  as  a  theologian,  as  a 
Biblical  student,  as  a  master  of  polite  literature,  and  general  in- 
formation. An  unusually  rapid,  accurate  and  retentive  memory 
enabled  him  to  make  the  best  use  of  his  extensive  knowledge. 

"With  a  most  dignified  and  graceful  bearing,  a  countenance 
full  of  intellect  yet  most  kindly  and  attractive,  a  musical  and 
powerful  voice,  capable  of  expressing  all  degrees  of  emotion,  per- 
fect command  of  the  most  polished  and  simplest  diction,  an  uner- 
ring instinct  as  to  the  proper  time  to  say  the  right  thing,  the 
warmest  sympathy  and  tenderest  feelings — these  qualities  would 
have  made  him  a  great  orator  in  any  secular  pursuit,  but  add  to 
these  his  Biblical  knowledge,  his  firm  faith,  his  childlike  humility, 
his  unshakable  love  for  the  Master,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  he 
stood  the  acknowledged  head  of  pulpit  orators.  Yet  we  who  knew 
him  so  well  and  have  enjoyed  the  inestimable  privilege  of  looking 
up  to  him  as  our  guide  and  friend,  will  perhaps  remember  best 
those  few  tender  and  loving  words  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
uttering  at  the  communion  table,  when,  with  upturned  face  and 
eyes  overflowing  with  emotion,  he  would  proclaim  that  the  sum 
and  substance  of  his  theology  was  faith  in  and  love  of  the  Savior. 

"As  a  pastor — in  those  close  relations  born  of  affliction  and 
sometimes  of  doubt  on  the  one  side,  and  of  sympathy  and  ever 


56  St.  Cloud  Church 

firm  faith  on  the  other — his  unequalled  tact  gave  him  inexpress- 
ible advantages.  When  at  the  call  of  duty  he  gave  up  his  pastoral 
charge  for  the  still  higher  function  amid  which  he  closed  his  life 
(the  presidency  of  Union  Seminary)  he  developed  such  admirable 
qualities  as  a  teacher  and  administrator  and  so  vitalized  the  insti- 
tution over  which  he  presided,  that  his  influence  upon  it  and 
through  it  upon  the  Presbyterian  Church  will  be  felt  during  gen- 
erations to  come. 

"This  tribute  to  his  memory  would  be  incomplete  did  it  not 
mention  one  of  his  noblest  qualities — the  complete  absence  of 
bigotry  or  narrow-mindedness  from  his  nature,  and  that  grand 
Christian  charity  which  led  him,  while  strong  in  his  preference 
for  his  own  branch  of  the  church,  to  love  and  recognize  as  brothers 
all  who — under  whatever  name — loved  the  Lord  Jesus.  The  active 
efforts  he  made  to  bring  different  denominations  into  a  closer 
relation,  based  on  the  points  of  agreement,  leaving  aside  their 
minor  differences,  have  borne  much  fruit  and  will  always  be 
remembered  throughout  the  whole  Christian  world. 

"In  the  ordinary  relations  of  life  he  was  as  admirable  as  in 
his  more  public  duties.  While  we  fully  realize  that  his  work 
will  long  survive  him,  we  feel  that  the  country,  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  Christianity  at  large  have  in  Dr.  Adams  sustained 
an  irreparable  loss." 

In  the  following  spring  a  second  memorial  to  Dr.  Adams  was 
dedicated  at  St.  Cloud.  This  was  the  Adams  Memorial  Chapel,  a 
beautiful  little  structure  erected  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
church,  adjoining  it,  and  like  it  in  architectural  style.  The  fol- 
lowing report  gives  the  detailed  account  of  the  occasion: 

"On  Wednesday  of  last  week  (June  15,  1881),  one  of  the  most 
charming  days  of  the  season,  a  large  number  of  the  friends  and 
neighbors  of  the  late  Dr.  William  Adams  assembled  on  Orange 
Mountain,  his  late  summer  residence,  to  dedicate  to  the  worship 


St.  Cloud  Church  57 

of  God  a  memorial  chapel  in  connection  with  the  Church  of  St. 
Cloud.  All  the  early  steps  in  the  establishing  of  this  church  were 
taken  under  the  counsels  of  Dr.  Adams,  and  the  result  has  been 
a  complete  fulfilment  of  his  desire  to  obtain,  not  merely  for  the 
summer  residents,  but  for  an  outlying  population,  all  the  priv- 
ileges of  the  sanctuary.  Under  the  able  ministrations  of  Mr. 
Whitaker  the  congregation  has  steadily  increased,  until  it  bears 
all  the  marks  of  a  well-established,  prosperous  and  influential 
organization.  Within  the  four  years  of  its  existence,  the  number 
of  members  has  been  nearly  quadrupled,  and  its  efficiency  has  pro- 
portionately increased. 

"Early  in  the  present  year  the  want  of  a  Sunday  School  room 
and  a  place  of  meeting  for  prayer  became  more  apparent,  and 
it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  building  for  the  purpose.  After  the 
death  of  Dr.  Adams,  the  congregation  adopted  the  idea  of  making 
the  chapel  a  memorial  to  the  beloved  and  honored  man  in  whose 
heart  and  home  the  enterprise  had  its  origin.  The  funds  were  con- 
tributed by  residents  of  the  neighborhood,  irrespective  of  denom- 
ination, and  on  Wednesday  of  last  week,  with  a  number  of  invited 
guests  from  the  city,  all  met  to  dedicate  another  stone  edifice, 
adorned  with  stained  glass  windows,  one  of  which  is  a  memorial 
window  containing  a  striking  and  almost  speaking  likeness  of  Dr. 
Adams.  After  reading  of  the  scriptures  and  singing,  the  prayer 
of  dedication  was  off'ered  by  the  Rev.  George  W.  F.  Birch,  of 
Mott  Haven.  Mr.  Whitaker  then  gave  a  sketch  of  the  history  of 
the  church  and  of  the  steps  which  led  to  the  erection  of  this  build- 
ing, and  handed  the  key  to  Dr.  Robert  Aikman,  of  Madison,  New 
Jersey,  chairman  of  the  committee  of  the  Presbytery  of  Morris 
and  Orange,  in  which  the  title  is  vested,  who  accepted  it  with  an 
address,  containing  interesting  reminiscences  of  Dr.  Adams  and 
counsel  for  the  church.  Brief  addresses,  which  were  marked  by 
aff"ectionate  remembrance,  were  made  by  Rev.  J.  0.  Averill,  of 


58  St.  Cloud  Church 

Flushing,  who  supplied  the  pulpit  before  Mr.  Whitaker's  installa- 
tion, Dr.  E.  D.  G.  Prime  and  Dr.  Birch.  Dr.  Mix  paid  the  fol- 
lowing tribute: 

"  *One  among  those  who  took  such  deep  and  growing  interest 
in  the  formation  of  this  church,  and  the  building  of  this  house 
of  the  Lord,  we  shall  never  forget.  His  prayers  rest  upon  it  as 
an  ever-present  benediction.  His  words  of  faith  and  hope,  here 
uttered,  are  as  if  now  repeating  themselves  in  our  hearing  as  often 
as  we  enter  its  sacred  precincts.  His  smiling  face,  and  reverent 
manner,  and  devoutness  of  speech  as  a  worshipper,  whenever  he 
was  here  present,  are  still  before  our  vision,  teaching  us  how  we 
ought  to  appear  before  God  to  pay  our  homage  and  our  vows. 

"  'Here,  indeed.  Dr.  Adams  did  his  last,  and  shall  I  not  say  his 
crowning  work,  in  the  service  which  he  rendered  to  this  church. 
It  is  a  blessed  thing  to  be  the  instrument  of  laying  the  foundation 
of  a  church  of  Christ.  It  may  well  be  a  privilege  coveted  by  us 
all  to  have  our  last  work  on  earth  that  of  doing  our  part  in  bring- 
ing into  being  such  a  vital  organization  as  this  Christian  church, 
and  setting  in  motion  such  a  living  force  as  it  is  destined  to  be  in 
benefitting  and  blessing  men.  It  was  a  fitting  ending  to  his  most 
honorable  and  useful  life  which  has  made  his  very  name  familiar 
as  a  household  word  among  Christians,  not  only  of  our  own,  but 
of  every  land.' 

"Few  old  established  congregations  rejoice  in  the  occupancy 
of  such  beautiful  and  substantial  church  buildings  entirely  free 
from  debt,"  continues  the  report,  "or  in  a  brighter  prospect  of 
usefulness,  with  a  pastor  worthily  enjoying  their  confidence  and 
affection.  Its  future  and  its  past  will  always  be  delightfully  asso- 
ciated with  the  memory  of  one  whose  praise  is  in  all  the  churches." 


St.  Cloud  Church  59 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Four  years  later,  on  October  29th,  1885,  the  church  suffered 
another  loss,  which  was  shared  by  the  larger  world  outside.  Gen- 
eral George  B.  McClellan,  the  warm  personal  friend  of  Dr.  Adams, 
whose  beautiful  tribute  we  have  given  above,  had  always  been 
deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  and  his 
death  was  a  great  bereavement.  On  October  29th,  1886,  a  year 
later,  a  tablet  was  erected  to  his  memory  on  the  church  wall.  The 
account  of  the  memorial  service  is  given  as  follows: 

"General  McClellan  died  one  year  ago,  and  yesterday  a  tablet 
to  his  memory  was  unveiled  at  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  where  the 
General  worshipped,  of  which  he  was  an  elder,  and  which  he 
always  firmly  and  faithfully  served.  The  services  were  opened 
by  the  pastor,  who  after  reading  a  few  appropriate  passages  of 
Scripture,  offered  prayer.     He  then  spoke  as  follows: 

"  'The  skies  overhead  are  in  sympathy  with  us  in  our  sorrow. 
The  curtain  of  clouds  is  shedding  misty  tears  in  unison  with  our 
thoughts.  This  same  day  last  year  the  clouds  were  also  weeping 
— the  leaves  were  lying  on  the  ground.  For  that  day  our  loss 
came  suddenly  at  midnight,  and  was  felt  through  large  and  small 
concentric  circles.  Hearts  in  Europe  and  Africa  alike  throbbed 
at  the  sense  of  loss  when  the  wire  told  of  that  death  on  Orange 
Mountain. 

"  'There  was  first  the  circle  of  our  own  beloved  land  that  felt 
the  loss  of  the  fighter  of  its  battles.  Then  there  was  the  circle 
of  the  commonwealth  of  this  state  which  he  was  called  upon  to 
govern.  Third  came  the  circle  of  the  community  where  this  great 
man  lived,  where,  when  the  tidings  passed  from  lip  to  lip,  it 
seemed  as  if  a  piece  of  the  everlasting  mountain  had  gone.  Then 
there  was  the  circle  of  this  flock,  this  communion,  this  little  inner 


60  St.  Cloud  Church 

circle  that  was  accustomed  to  lean  on  his  strong  arm  during  the 
days  of  its  infancy.  So  through  all  these  circles,  whether  wider 
or  smaller,  the  vibrations  of  sympathy  swept  when  the  news  of 
our  loss  was  made  known.  It  is  very  appropriate  for  the  larger 
circles  to  show  forth  their  feelings  on  such  an  occasion,  but 
especially  so  in  this  little  inner  one.  I  would  have  you  remember 
also  that  first  Lord's  Day  after  our  loss,  the  communion  service, 
with  his  chair  draped  in  black  and  wreathed  with  white  flowers. 
A  few  days  later,  the  session  adopted  a  minute  expressive  of  their 
sorrow  as  a  tribute  to  one  whom  we  had  all  known  and  loved. 
After  some  time  it  was  thought  best  that  some  more  permanent 
and  lasting  memorial  should  be  erected  here,  where  we  had  all 
known  and  loved  General  McClellan,  and  this  was  felt  to  be  so 
appropriate  that  nearly  one  hundred  have  added  their  names  and 
gifts  to  the  memorial.  We  are  taught  by  the  life  of  the  one  gone 
before  of  the  power  of  love.  Ask  the  soldier  who  had  served 
under  him  if  he  admired  him,  and  the  answer  is  instantaneous, 
"No,  I  love  him."  This  quality  of  love  to  him  was  characteristic 
of  all  who  come  in  contact  with  him.  The  tablet  will  now  be  un- 
veiled by  the  senior  elder,  formerly  a  soldier  himself,  Mr.  Moses 
Condit.  This  tablet  is  now  erected  in  God's  house,  and  in  loving 
memory  of  George  Brinton  McClellan.' 

"The  tablet  was  then  unveiled  by  Elder  Condit,  the  congrega- 
tion reverently  standing.  Elder  Ephraim  Jacobus  then  read  the 
minutes  of  the  session  adopted  nearly  a  year  ago.  Mr.  Henry  W. 
Williams  off^ered  an  eloquent  eulogy  on  the  departed  general, 
closing  with  the: 

" 'O  great  soldier,  we  salute  you;  0,  firm  and  loyal  Governor, 
we  revere  you;  0,  earnest,  faithful  friend,  we  love  you  and  bid 
you  farewell.'  " 

After  a  few  further  remarks,  Mr.  Whitaker  closed  the  meeting 
with  prayer.    The  tablet  is  a  very  neat  and  beautiful  one  of  pol- 


St.  Cloud  Church  61 

ished  brass,  mounted  on  black  marble,  with  a  laurel  wreath  bor- 
der. This,  as  well  as  the  inscription,  is  of  dark  green  lacquer.  The 
inscription  is  as  follows: 

George  Brinton  McClellan, 

Major  General  U.  S.  A. 

Governor  of  New  Jersey, 

Elder  of  this  church, 

October  29th,  1865. 

"I  have  fought  a  good  fight 
I  have  finished  my  course 
I  have  kept  the  faith." 


62  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

In  the  same  year,  1886,  on  the  21st  of  September,  occurred  the 
first  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at  St.  Cloud,  of  which  we 
have  this  record: 

"More  than  sixty  ministers  and  elders  were  present  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange  at  St.  Cloud  last 
Tuesday.  After  the  opening  sermon  by  Dr.  Ehman,  of  Morris- 
town,  the  retiring  Moderator,  the  Presbytery  elected  the  Rev.  David 
0.  Irving  to  serve  as  Moderator  for  the  next  half  year.  Elder 
E.  P.  Starr  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  clerks.  The  balance  of  the 
morning  and  the  afternoon  session  was  devoted  entirely  to  routine 
business. 

"At  the  close  of  the  morning  session  a  bountiful  collation  was 
provided  by  the  ladies  of  the  church.  The  large  connecting  rooms 
on  the  main  floor  of  a  private  house  had  been  decorated  with 
plants  and  flowers  and  autumn  leaves;  and  here  the  guests  took 
their  seats  at  several  long  tables,  which  were  served  by  a  score 
of  young  ladies  wearing  ornamental  caps  and  aprons.  Just  before 
supper,  which  was  provided  at  the  same  place,  the  guests  were 
invited  to  take  a  carriage  ride;  and  this  gave  them  the  oppor- 
tunity for  enjoying  the  view  from  the  mountain  looking  toward 
New  York  and  the  view  of  perhaps  greater  beauty  along  the  sec- 
ond valley. 

"At  the  evening  session  there  was  a  large  congregation  present, 
and  the  reports  of  the  various  Presbyterian  Boards  were  read  by 
different  gentlemen,  accompanied  by  a  few  remarks.  The  Pres- 
bytery adjourned  to  meet  at  Camden  during  the  sessions  of  the 
Synod  in  October." 


St.  Cloud  Church  63 


CHAPTER  XV. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  the  need  of  a 
parsonage  was  not  strongly  felt,  Mr.  Whitaker,  being  unmar- 
ried, lived  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert,  whose  home  was  conven- 
iently near  and  the  parish  activities  were  carried  on  in  the  neigh- 
borhood or  in  the  church  building  itself.  In  the  summer  of  1883, 
however,  a  "Parsonage  Fund"  was  started,  which  had  its  origin 
in  the  proceeds  of  a  concert  given  at  Brighthurst.  For  seven  years 
additions  were  made  to  this  fund,  until,  in  1890,  it  amounted  to 
$1,870.  In  this  year  the  feeling  became  general  that  at  last  the 
time  for  action  had  arrived.  To  quote  from  a  circular  sent  by  a 
committee  of  elders  and  deacons  to  the  members  and  friends  of 
the  congregation  in  October,  1890 :  "The  general  prosperity  of  the 
church,  as  shown  in  the  annual  report  of  the  deacons  and  pre- 
sented last  July;  the  steady  attendance  at  the  church  services;  the 
interest  shown  in  the  many  activities  of  our  church  life ;  these,  and 
other  considerations,  have  intensified  the  desire  for  a  parsonage, 
and  for  the  advantages  which  it  would  afford  for  parish  work." 

This  wide-spread  feeling  resulted  in  a  meeting  of  the  congre- 
gation on  September  21st,  at  which  a  committee  composed  of 
Messrs.  Brown,  Kimball  and  Dane  was  appointed  to  take  action 
at  once.  At  a  meeting  held  October  10th,  this  committee  reported 
that,  with  the  unanimous  approval  of  the  officers  of  the  church, 
they  had  entered  into  an  agreement  to  purchase  the  residence  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  G.  Morgan,  opposite  the  church,  on  Ridge- 
way  Avenue.  "The  lot  is  84  feet  wide  in  front  and  200  feet  deep ; 
and  the  house  and  stable  thereon  are  in  fair  condition  for  imme- 
diate occupancy.  The  house  is  admirably  adapted  in  its  internal 
arrangements  for  use  as  a  parsonage.    It  is  a  convenient  residence, 


64  St.  Cloud  Church 

and  its  rooms  are  commodious  for  the  social  intercourse  of  the 
congregation.     The  price  to  be  paid  is  $5,500. 

"It  is  an  interesting  reminiscence  that  the  first  meeting  to  take 
action  in  the  matter  of  building  the  church  was  held  in  the  parlor 
of  this  house. 

"The  congregation  unanimously  approved  and  confirmed  the 
action  of  its  committee.  It  directed  the  undersigned  to  present 
an  immediate  appeal  to  the  members  and  friends  of  the  congre- 
gation for  the  additional  funds  needed. 

"In  undertaking  this  work,  we  are  stimulated  by  the  size  of 
the  fund  already  in  hand.  We  need  about  $4,000  more  in  order 
to  pay  for  the  property  and  to  prepare  it  in  some  details  for  serv- 
ing its  new  purpose  more  perfectly." 

Meanwhile,  the  ladies  of  the  congregation  "had  not  lost  a  day 
in  hastening  the  work  of  furnishing  the  parsonage."  As  soon  as 
the  Committee  on  Purchase  had  made  their  agreement  with  Mr. 
Morgan,  four  committees  began  work,  believing  that  there  was 
little  doubt  of  the  congregation's  confirmation  of  this  agreement. 
The  committees  were  as  follows:  (1)  To  fit  the  house  for  fur- 
nishing (chairman,  Mrs.  Jacobus).  (2)  To  provide  furniture  for 
dining  room  and  kitchen  (chairman,  Mrs.  Dane).  (3)  To  provide 
furniture  for  the  other  rooms  (chairman,  Mrs.  Brown).  (4)  To 
provide  linen  for  all  uses  (chairman,  Mrs.  Moore).  These  com- 
mittees worked  with  such  speed  and  skill  that  they  were  able  to 
invite  the  congregation  and  its  friends  to  inspect  the  house  and 
spend  a  social  evening  in  the  new  parsonage  on  Thursday,  the 
16th,  only  six  days  after  the  congregation  approved  the  purchase. 
The  following  record  of  the  "housewarming"  appears  in  the  col- 
umns of  a  paper  published  at  the  time: 

"In  spite  of  the  storm  on  Thursday  evening,  the  parsonage 
recently  purchased  for  the  St.  Cloud  Church  was  crowded  with 
a  large  gathering  of  the  members  of  the  congregation  and  their 


St.  Cloud  Church  65 

friends.  The  labors  of  the  ladies'  committees  in  furnishing  the 
home  had  been  greatly  helped  by  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Morgan,  from 
whom  the  house  was  purchased,  had  recently  painted  and  papered 
the  interior  in  a  most  charming  and  tasteful  style,  quite  appro- 
priate for  a  parsonage.  The  committee  on  furnishing  had  pur- 
chased the  mattings  and  carpets  which  were  on  the  floors  through- 
out the  house  and  much  of  the  furniture.  This  was  largely  sup- 
plemented by  gifts  of  additional  furniture  and  contributions  of 
bedding  and  kitchen  furniture,  so  that  the  equipment  is  complete 
in  every  detail.  The  home  was  furnished  throughout  with  bracket 
lamps  of  the  best  quality.  This  complete  result,  reached  within 
one  week  after  the  formal  acceptance  of  the  property  by  the  con- 
gregation, was  thought  to  be  unprecedented  in  point  of  prompt- 
ness. 

"Before  the  refreshments  were  served  the  company  gathered 
on  the  lower  floor  and  the  committee  on  purchase  presented  the 
key  to  the  officers  of  the  church.  Mr.  Timms,  acting  for  the  officers 
of  the  church,  presented  the  key  to  the  pastor,  who  accepted  it 
and  replied  with  a  touching  address,  alluding  to  his  early  life  in 
a  plain  Long  Island  parsonage  and  of  his  pleasure  at  having  with 
him  this  evening  the  dear  mother  who  had  been  the  good  angel 
of  that  parsonage.  At  this  time  also,  the  curtain  was  withdrawn 
from  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Whitaker,  admirably  done  in  crayon,  life 
size,  by  Mrs.  Squire,  of  St.  Cloud,  her  gift  to  the  parsonage. 

"Then  the  formal  exercises  were  closed  by  an  address  of  warm 
congratulation  from  Dr.  C.  H.  W.  Stocking,  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents  at  St.  Cloud.  After  this  the  com- 
pany did  full  justice  to  the  ample  arrangements  made  by  the  com- 
mittee on  refreshments." 

One  might  think  from  the  glowing  description  above  that  the 
equipment  of  the  new  parsonage  was  complete,  but  the  congre- 
gation was  not  yet  satisfied.     An  article  entitled  "Installing  the 


66  St.  Cloud  Church 

Pastor's  Horse"  gives  an  account  of  a  unique  ceremony  which 
took  place  soon  after  the  housewarming. 

"The  congregation  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  has  placed  a  new 
barn  behind  its  recently  acquired  parsonage.  On  Thursday  even- 
ing the  lower  floor  was  filled  with  members  of  the  congregation 
gathered  for  a  novel  service.  The  pastor's  pony  was  to  be  in- 
stalled. After  a  social  hour  and  refreshments,  the  pony  was  an- 
nounced. Arrayed  from  head  to  tail  in  flags  and  ribbons,  grasses, 
hay  and  straw,  he  entered  the  broad  door  and  gazed  upon  the 
decorations  and  the  company.  Mr.  Alfred  R.  Kimball  delivered 
an  address  of  welcome,  a  kind  of  charge  to  the  pony.  Full  of  wit 
and  abounding  in  local  hits,  it  called  forth  rounds  of  laughter. 
Among  other  things,  Mr.  Kimball  urged  the  horse  who  was  being 
installed,  not  to  be  a  halter,  and  to  look  aloft  for  his  food.  Mr. 
Brown  followed,  delivering  an  amusing  charge  to  the  people. 
More  serious  words  were  spoken  of  the  probable  meaning  of  the 
various  parts  of  the  pony's  evening  attire,  and  a  tender  reference 
to  the  many  sad  errands  upon  which  the  parson's  horse  must 
travel  during  a  year.  After  partaking  of  some  sugar  the  pony 
left  the  floor  and  the  company  departed." 

"Twin  Cherry"  parsonage,  once  opened,  proved  a  great  bless- 
ing to  the  parish.  Parlor  meetings,  social  meetings.  Fourth  of  July 
parties,  "Autumn  Evenings,"  all  took  place  in  the  house  or  on  the 
lawn  of  the  newly-acquired  property.  A  copy  of  the  Willing 
Worker,  published  February,  1892,  tells  of  the  celebration  that 
was  held  there  at  Christmas  time  in  the  year  1891. 

"Christmas  came  on  Friday.  It  was  observed  on  Saturday  and 
Sunday.  It  rained  on  Saturday  afternoon,  but  promptly  at  one 
o'clock  the  pupils  of  the  primary  class  of  the  Sunday  School  be- 
gan to  arrive  at  the  parsonage.  Willing  hands  cared  for  wraps 
and  rubbers,  and  the  little  people  were  ready  for  a  good  time. 
They  had  it.     The  parlor  games  were  under  the  direction  of  Mrs. 


St.  Cloud  Church  67 

Hendrick,  the  teacher  of  the  class,  and  Mrs.  Hushard.  Several 
pretty  motion-songs  were  given,  showing  the  diligence  with  which 
the  children  had  rehearsed.  At  the  hour  for  refreshments,  all 
moved  into  the  dining-room,  where  the  children  in  little  groups 
sat  down  on  the  matting  like  Turks.  For  each  one  there  was  a 
wooden  plate,  enough  good  things  to  eat,  and  sweet  milk  to  drink. 
Then  the  screens  were  removed,  and  the  tree  appeared.  This 
stood  in  the  bay  window  of  the  dining-room.  Its  top  touched  the 
ceiling;  its  branches  were  laden  with  sweet  things  and  adorned 
with  an  abundance  of  pretty  things.  After  the  candles  had  been 
lighted,  and  the  lights  had  been  enjoyed,  Mr.  Kimball  called  for 
a  hymn,  and  then  spoke  tenderly  of  the  death,  only  four  days 
before,  of  little  Maggie,  a  member  of  the  class.  At  departure, 
each  pupil  received  a  book  and  a  package  of  candy.  The  last 
little  guest  said  good-bye  before  six  o'clock. 

"In  the  evening  the  parsonage  was  open  for  the  older  pupils 
of  the  school,  and  for  the  members  of  the  congregation.  The 
company  was  entertained  with  piano  music  by  Miss  Stenken;  an 
address  on  Christmas  in  England  by  Mr.  Lander,  illustrated  with 
costume  and  cornet;  original  chalk-drawings  by  Mr.  Fred  W. 
Dane,  and  other  amusements.  The  tree  was  lighted  a  second  time. 
Refreshments  were  served  and  the  evening  closed  with  hymns  and 
a  prayer  by  the  pastor." 

This  and  other  accounts  showing  the  hospitable  and  pleasant 
character  of  the  new  parish  home  well  describes  the  appreciation 
of  the  congregation.  "Altogether,"  we  read,  "Twin  Cherry  par- 
sonage has  been  a  most  delightful  meeting  place  for  the  whole 
parish." 

Meanwhile  the  Parsonage  Fund  had  not  been  very  successful. 
Although,  in  1890,  "through  the  loyal  effort  of  all  interested,  the 
Fund   was   sufficiently  increased  to   justify  the   purchase  of  the 


68  St.  Cloud  Church 

house  and  to  put  the  property  into  suitable  condition,"  yet  the 
whole  amount  necessary  could  not  be  raised  at  the  time,  and  an 
additional  sum  was  accepted  from  two  friends  of  the  church,  who 
at  once  advanced  the  necessary  amount  as  a  loan  and  continued 
it  without  interest  for  nearly  ten  years,  until  in  1899  it  had 
reached  the  sum  of  nearly  $2,500. 

Small  sums  were  raised  from  time  to  time  by  the  giving  of 
concerts,  sales,  and  other  entertainments,  but  no  concentrated 
effort  was  made  to  pay  back  the  loan  until  the  fall  of  1898.  At 
that  time  the  following  statement  of  the  money  controlled  by  the 
trustees  of  the  Parsonage  Fund,  was  announced : 

Receipts. 

Original  fund,  with  interest,  in  1890 $1,867.10 

Results  of  effort  in  1890 3,998.39 


$5,865.49 
Expenditures. 

1890— House  and  lot $5,500.00 

1891— Stables  455.00 

1891— New  heating  apparatus 298.48 

1891 — Dining  room  and  pantry  alterations 228.31 

1892— Painting 280.00 

1890-1895— Repairs  and  improvements 582.24 

1895 — Renovations  and  improvements  at  change  of  pas- 
torate   583.25 

1895-1898— Repairs 104.07 

1895 — Expense  of  examining  title  of  house,  in  1890  (no 

charge  for  Mr.  Blake's  services) 86.93 

1892— Taxes  48.00 


St.  Cloud  Church  69 

1890-1903— Insurance  146.26 

Printing  6.50 

Total    disbursements $8,319.04 

Total  receipts 5,865.49 


$2,453.55 


In  a  few  months,  before  the  first  of  June,  1899,  this  entire  sum 
had  been  raised  and  the  Parsonage  Fund  was  a  thing  of  the  past. 


70  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Another  addition  to  the  social  life  of  the  church  was  the  open- 
ing of  a  circulating  library.  The  apartment  which  served  both 
as  a  reading  room  and  as  the  home  of  the  library,  occupied  the 
whole  of  the  building  at  the  corner  of  Ridgeway  and  Franklin 
avenues.  The  use  of  this  building  was  given  by  Mr.  W.  J.  A. 
Fuller  and  the  necessary  alterations  were  made  by  means  of  dona- 
tions from  several  neighbors.  A  large  representation  of  the  resi- 
dents on  Orange  Mountain,  with  friends  from  other  parts  of  West 
Orange  and  from  New  York,  assembled  at  the  St.  Cloud  reading 
hall  to  participate  in  the  informal  opening  exercises.* 

When  the  doors  were  thrown  open  to  the  public  on  Thursday 
evening,  it  was  found  that  the  interior  had  been  ceiled  in  light 
wood;  that  the  windows  had  been  provided  with  neat  shades  and 
lambrequins  in  red;  that  the  walls  had  been  adorned  with  pic- 
tures; that  the  handsome  bookcases  of  the  library  had  been  ar- 
ranged at  the  rear  of  the  hall;  that  the  long  table  in  the  center 
of  the  room  had  been  supplied  with  nearly  thirty  different  papers, 
journals  and  magazines;  that  the  lamps  were  so  numerous  that 
reading  was  possible  in  every  part  of  the  room;  that  roses  and 
other  cut  flowers  were  contributing  beauty  and  fragrance;  and  that 
the  scriptural  motto,  "Give  attendance  to  reading,"  in  ornamental 
lettering,  looked  down  upon  the  scene  from  the  south  wall.  After 
a  half-hour  had  been  spent  in  the  interchange  of  congratulations, 
Mr.  Whitaker  made  a  brief  address,  in  which  he  spoke  of  the 
founding  of  the  library  six  months  ago,  of  the  generosity  of  the 
owner  of  the  building,  and  of  the  skill  and  industry  of  the  ladies, 
who,  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  Moore,  Mrs.  Skillin  and  Mrs. 

*The  opening  of  the  circulating  library  in  the  Reading  Hall  of  St, 
Cloud  took  place  on  Thursday,  December  11,  1884. 


St.  Cloud  Church  71 

Klemm,  had  given  to  the  room  its  very  attractive  appearance.  Mr. 
Henry  W.  Williams  spoke  of  pleasant  events  in  the  history  of  St. 
Cloud,  and  moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
to  whom  the  public  are  indebted  for  the  library  and  reading  room. 
The  motion  was  seconded  by  many  voices,  and  in  a  short  speech 
by  Mr.  Robert  L.  Wensley.  The  vote  was  unanimous.  Mr.  Brown 
then  gave  some  interesting  items  in  reference  to  the  formation  of 
the  library,  saying  that  one  of  the  first  contributions  had  come 
from  beyond  the  Atlantic,  sent  by  a  member  of  Parliament  resid- 
ing in  London,  who  is  a  relative  of  Sir  William  Brown,  to  whom 
the  city  of  Liverpool  is  indebted  for  its  large  library  building. 
Another  gift  came  from  a  friend  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  form  of 
a  one  hundred  dollar  bill  sent  in  an  unregistered  letter.  Words 
of  congratulation  were  spoken  by  Mr.  Robert  Palm,  principal 
of  the  South  Mountain  public  school,  and  then  the  doors  of  the 
library  were  thrown  open.  There  were  about  four  hundred  and 
fifty  volumes,  and  it  was  proposed  to  add  one  case  of  books  for 
reference,  such  as  lexicons,  encyclopedias,  dictionaries,  etc.,  as 
soon  as  possible.  When  first  opened,  the  library  and  reading  hall 
were  used  from  two  to  five  and  from  seven  to  nine  o'clock  P.  M., 
every  week  day  except  Tuesday  and  Friday. 

On  the  very  month  in  which  the  final  steps  were  taken  by  the 
congregation  and  committee  in  the  matter  of  selecting  a  parsonage 
(October,  1890),  a  little  church  paper  was  started  as  "a  means 
of  communication  between  pastor  and  people."  It  was  called  the 
Willing  Worker  and  was  supposedly  edited  by  the  Girls'  Mission 
Band,  v/hich  went  by  the  same  name,  but  it  was  in  reality  one  of 
Mr.  Whitaker's  many  ways  of  adding  interest  and  vitality  to  the 
parish  work.  The  "Greeting,"  which  appeared  on  the  first  page 
of  the  first  number,  is  the  best  explanation  of  its  origin  and  pur- 
pose: 

"On  Saturday,  March  1,  1884,  the  girls  of  three  classes  in  the 


72  St.  Cloud  Church 

Sunday  school  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  met  at  the  chapel  to  or- 
ganize a  mission  band.  The  wind  blew,  and  blew,  and  the  day  was 
cold;  but  the  hearts  were  warm  and  the  purpose  of  the  meeting 
was  accomplished.  Officers  were  elected,  rules  adopted,  and  a 
name  and  a  motto,  John  9,  4,  were  chosen. 

"The  band  is  in  the  last  half  of  its  seventh  year.  Its  work  has 
almost  girdled  the  globe.  The  products  of  its  many  fingers  and 
purses,  the  gifts  of  its  earthen  jars  and  wooden  barrels  have  been 
distributed  in  New  Jersey,  New  York  and  North  Carolina;  in  Col- 
orado, Utah  and  Dakota;  in  Alaska  and  Micronesia;  in  China 
and  Japan;  in  Turkey,  Persia  and  other  foreign  lands.  At  home, 
the  clock  in  the  chapel,  the  red  books  in  the  library  of  the  primary 
class,  the  large  wall  pictures,  which  illustrate  the  Sunday  school 
lessons  from  week  to  week,  these  are  among  the  fruits  of  its  labors. 

"The  band  is  becoming  more  ambitious,  and  at  the  semi-annual 
meeting  in  September  it  was  resolved  to  venture  upon  the  publi- 
cation of  a  little  paper.  The  first  five  officers  of  the  band  were 
appointed  an  editorial  committee,  and  they  now  send  forth  this 
Willing  Worker  and  ask  for  it  a  cordial  reception.  Be  to  its 
virtues  very  kind,  and  to  its  faults  a  little  blind.  The  committee 
sends  its  greeting  to  all  to  whom  these  pages  may  come,  and  it 
asks  the  readers  to  think  of  these  four  P's — the  Paper,  its  Pur- 
pose, its  Price  and  its  Period. 

"1.  The  Paper  is  not  very  large,  but  some  of  us  are  not  very 
large  or  old  or  learned.  We  have  found  plenty  of  work  for  little 
heads  and  little  hands,  and  perhaps  there  will  be  work  for  a  little 
paper.    Perhaps  it  may  grow. 

"2.  The  Purpose  is  larger  than  its  page.  It  will  endeavor  to 
carry  notices  of  church  meetings,  news  of  church  efforts,  and  invi- 
tations to  church  work.  Its  columns  will  help  those  who  heard 
the  notice  but  'cannot  remember  whether  it  is  at  7:30  or  8  o'clock.' 
It  will  aid  those  who,  because  of  deafness,  detention  at  home  or 


St.  Cloud  Church  73 

absence  from  home,  did  not  hear  the  topic.  It  will  give  correctly 
the  name  and  address  of  church  officers,  with  whom  correspond- 
ence may  be  desired.  Moreover,  it  will  convey  to  those  who  are 
far  away,  for  a  season  or  for  years,  tidings  from  the  work  and 
workers  left  behind. 

"3.  The  Price  is  five  cents.  It  is  true  that  this  sum  is  the 
interest  on  a  whole  dollar  for  a  whole  year  at  five  per  cent.,  and 
yet  it  is  much  less  than  some  girls  and  boys  spend  in  one  candy 
purchase,  or  some  men  pay  for  an  inferior  cigar.  Our  paper  may 
not  be  as  sweet  as  the  candy  (we  hope  that  it  will  not  too  early 
end  in  smoke),  but  we  think,  after  our  efforts  for  this  first  num- 
ber, that  it  is  very  cheap  at  a  half-dime.  We  derive  no  revenue 
from  advertisements.     Our  paper  is  not  'entered  as  second  class.' 

"4.  The  Period,  the  interval  between  this  number  and  the 
next;  this  is  a  matter,  dear  readers,  concerning  which  you  can 
help  us.  The  frequency  of  publication  must  depend  upon  the 
wishes  and  subscriptions  of  our  friends.  Whether  the  Willing 
Worker  shall  appear  monthly,  bi-monthly,  quarterly,  annually, 
occasionally,  or  only  this  once,  is  the  problem  set  before  our 
committee.  Send  us  hints  and  suggestions  in  the  form  of  coins. 
Two-cent  postage  stamps  will  be  received  without  discount  from 
distant  friends.  The  cost  of  this  first  number,  and  of  the  sample 
copies  to  be  distributed  freely,  has  been  met  by  the  generosity  of 
a  friend  in  the  congregation,  the  mother  of  one  of  the  Willing 
Workers.  For  this  help  the  committee  renders  its  hearty  thanks, 
but  it  hopes  that  the  cost  of  any  number  or  numbers  that  follow 
will  be  met,  in  large  part,  by  the  subscriptions  of  those  who  may 
desire  to  have  copies  of  our  little  paper  for  their  own  use  or  for 
mailing.  Copies  of  No.  1,  without  the  mark  'Sample,'  can  be 
obtained  from  any  officer  of  the  band.  Subscriptions  and  sugges- 
tions and  kind  words  will  be  welcomed  by 

"The  Editorial  Committee." 


74  St.  Cloud  Church 

The  Willing  Worker  was  published  until  Mr.  Whitaker 
resigned  from  the  St.  Cloud  Church  in  1894.  Within  four  years' 
time,  six  copies  were  printed,  all  of  which  were  true  to  the  original 
purpose  and  make  very  interesting  reading. 

A  year  after  the  first  appearance  of  the  Willing  Worker,  on 
the  first  of  October,  1891,  the  St.  Cloud  congregation  attended  the 
funeral  of  one  of  the  elders  who,  among  other  qualities,  had  the 
distinction  of  being  the  oldest  inhabitant  and  who  had  lived  in 
the  life-time  of  every  president  of  the  United  States.  To  quote 
a  report  which  appeared  at  the  time: 

"Mr.  Moses  Condit,  of  West  Orange,  the  oldest  native  resident 
of  the  Oranges,  died  at  his  home  in  Pleasant  Valley,  at  about  3 
o'clock  Monday  afternoon.  He  was  ninety-seven  years  old,  and 
death  was  caused  by  the  infirmities  of  age.  He  had  been  a  man 
of  remarkable  mental  and  physical  vigor,  and  retained  possession 
of  his  faculties  until  a  short  time  before  death  ended  his  long 
life. 

"Mr.  Condit  was  the  son  of  Jonathan  Condit,  and  was  born 
on  August  17th,  1794,  in  the  old  homestead,  which  has  been  in 
possession  of  the  family  for  nearly  two  hundred  years,  and  in 
which  his  grandfather  and  father  lived  and  died.  His  grand- 
father's name  was  Captain  Samuel  Condit,  who  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  built  the  homestead. 

"Mr.  Condit's  entire  life  has  been  spent  on  the  farm,  and  he 
never  followed  any  other  occupation  save  that  of  a  farmer.  He 
enlisted  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  drew  a  pension  from  the  govern- 
ment as  one  of  the  few  surviving  veterans  of  that  war.  In  1819, 
he  married  Miss  Maria  Corby,  of  West  Orange.  She  died  in  the 
year  1874.  Eight  children  were  born  to  them,  two  of  whom 
died,  namely  Jesse  W.  and  Jonathan  W.  The  surviving  children 
are:  Mr.  Albert  P.  Condit,  of  West  Orange;  Mrs.  Martha  A., 
widow  of  the  late  A.  W.  Nevins,  of  this  city;  Mr.  Theodore  F. 


St.  Cloud  Church  75 

Condit,  formerly  of  the  firm  of  Condit  &  Romer,  undertakers,  of 
this  city,  but  now  of  Baltimore,  Md.;  Mrs.  Hanna  C,  wife  of  Mr. 
I.  Newton  Canfield,  of  Caldwell;  Mr.  Moses  E.  Condit,  West  Or- 
ange,  and  Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  Andrew  J.  Van  Ness,  of  West 
Orange. 

"Mr.  Condit  was  originally  a  Whig,  but  afterward  joined  the 
American  or  'Know  Nothing'  party  and  then  became  a  Democrat, 
continuing  his  allegiance  to  that  party  to  the  last.  While  taking 
an  interest  in  local  and  political  affairs  it  is  not  known  that  he 
ever  held  ofi&ce.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  of  the  old  school  and 
joined  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Orange,  which  he 
attended  regularly  until  the  St.  Cloud  Church  was  established, 
when  he  transferred  his  membership  to  that  church,  in  which  he 
was  a  ruling  elder  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Condit  was  very 
successful  as  a  farmer,  and  at  one  time  he  was  considered  quite 
wealthy.  Through  various  gifts  to  his  children,  losses,  etc.,  it  is 
not  thought  that  he  left  a  very  large  estate.  Together  with  the  sur- 
viving children  named,  he  leaves  a  large  number  of  grand-chil- 
dren and  great-grand-children. 

"The  funeral  services  were  conducted  at  the  old  homestead  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitaker." 

An  item  in  the  Willing  Worker  for  December,  1891,  states 
that  on  the  following  Sunday,  which  was  Communion  Sunday,  the 
empty  chair  of  Elder  Condit  was  dressed  in  black  and  held  a  sheaf 
of  wheat. 


76  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  little  church  paper  to  which  reference  is  made  above  was, 
as  stated,  only  one  of  Mr.  Whitaker's  many  ways  of  making  his 
parish  work  interesting  and  full  of  life.  A  man  of  wide  and 
varied  interests,  he  seemed  to  have  infinite  resources  and  tireless 
energy  in  devising  ways  of  keeping  his  flock  wide-awake  and  in 
touch  with  the  outside  world.  The  sequel  of  one  of  his  vacations 
was  almost  invariably  a  lecture  or  a  series  of  lectures,  usually  his- 
torical in  character,  as  history  was  one  of  his  greatest  interests, 
but  sometimes  purely  descriptive.  On  returning  from  General 
Assembly  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  in  1892,  he  gave  a  double  series 
of  lectures — those  given  on  Thursday  evenings  were  more  or  less 
of  the  conventional  type,  dealing  with  "The  Yosemite  Valley," 
"The  Top  of  Pike's  Peak,"  etc.,  but  the  Sunday  evening  series  was 
quite  unique,  and  the  program,  though  twenty-five  years  old,  still 
arouses  one's  curiosity.  It  is  entitled:  "Some  Modern  Cities  and 
Some  Ancient  Commands"  and  reads  as  follows: 

Chicago — The  Fourth  Commandment. 
Denver — The  Third  Commandment. 
Salt  Lake — The  Seventh  Commandment. 
San  Francisco — The  First  Commandment. 
Portland — The  Ninth  Commandment,  etc. 

You  are  invited.  Seats  free.  Bring  a  Bible.  Congregational 
singing.  Study  the  map  on  Saturday.  On  Sunday  read  Exodus 
20 : 1-17,  and  Matthew  5 :  17-37.    Come ! 

Another  program  which  still  retains  a  piquant  flavor  is  one 
which  was  printed  two  years  later  in  connection  with  a  series  of 
"Autumn  Evenings"  held  at  the  parsonage: 


St.  Cloud  Church  77 

"During  August  the  Pastor  spent  several  days  in  historical 
studies  in  New  England.  In  the  coming  Autumn  months  there  will 
be  short  addresses  at  the  parsonage,  in  which  he  will  seek  to  share 
with  others  some  of  the  fruits  of  his  travel  and  research.  The 
narration  for  each  evening  will  occupy  about  thirty  minutes.  It 
will  be  preceded  by  selections  of  music  and  followed  by  a  read- 
ing, recitation,  or  song.  Maps,  charts,  photographs,  documents, 
souvenirs  or  other  objects  illustrating  the  topic  of  the  evening 
may  be  examined  at  the  close."  Under  the  title,  which  is,  "The 
Hub,  and  Some  of  the  Spokes,"  appears  a  quotation  from  Oliver 
Wendell  Holmes:  "Boston  is  the  Hub  of  the  Solar  system.  You 
couldn't  pry  that  out  of  a  Boston  man  if  you  had  the  tire  of  all 
creation  straightened  out  for  a  crowbar."  The  program  is  as  fol- 
lows: 


1. 

Norumbega 

The  Pioneers 

A.  D.  1000 

2. 

Plymouth 

The  Pilgrims 

1620 

3. 

Boston 

The  Puritans 

1630 

4. 

Salem 

The  Persecutors 

1692 

5. 

Newburyport 

The  Preachers 

1770 

6. 

Lexington 

The  Patriots 

1775 

7. 

Andover 

The  Pedagogues 

1778 

8. 

Cambridge 

The  Poets 

1807 

9. 

Concord 

The  Philosophers 

1879 

To  read  a  few  of  these  documents  makes  it  easy  for  one  to 
understand  the  congregation's  enthusiasm  for  their  many-sided  and 
energetic  pastor.  But  Mr.  Whitaker  did  not  rely  on  his  experience 
alone  to  furnish  material  for  St.  Cloud  lectures.  He  was  quick 
to  realize  fitness  in  others,  and  in  the  first  year  of  his  pastorate, 
1878,  he  arranged  for  a  course  of  five  lectures  by  eminent  and 
able  men,  which  was  much  appreciated  not  only  by  the  members 
of  the  St.  Cloud  congregation,  but  by  many  strangers  who  came 
from  various  parts  of  the  surrounding  country. 


78  St.  Cloud  Church 

The  first  lecture  of  the  course  was  delivered  by  Dr.  Adams. 
His  subject  was  "Self-Made  Men" — a  topic  with  which  he  was 
eminently  fitted  to  deal,  because  of  his  wide  acquaintance  with 
men  of  all  types  and  professions. 

Dr.  Wm.  M.  Taylor,  of  the  Broadway  Tabernacle,  was  the  sec- 
ond speaker.  He  chose  a  topic  not  unlike  that  of  Dr.  Adams': 
"Some  Poor  Boys,  What  They  Made  of  Themselves,  and  How 
They  Did  It."  The  third  lecture  on  Village  Improvement,  prac- 
tical and  popular,  was  given  by  Dr.  Henry  M.  Field,  of  the  A^.  Y. 
Evangelist;  while  "Boots,  Shoes  and  Naked  Feet"  was  the  inter- 
esting title  of  a  very  interesting  talk  by  Dr.  Llewellyn  Besan,  of 
the  Brick  Church,  N.  Y.  The  Rev.  James  F.  Riggs,  of  Constanti- 
nople, delivered  the  fifth  and  last  lecture  on  the  subject  of  "The 
Turks,"  a  successful  ending  to  the  course. 

Lectures,  however,  were  not  Mr.  Whitaker's  only  resource.  He 
knew  many  ways  in  which  to  add  to  the  interest  of  the  church 
services.  At  one  time  (in  the  year  1884),  wishing  to  increase  the 
congregation's  acquaintance  with  the  hymn-book,  he  printed  an 
alphabetical  list  of  hymns  to  be  memorized.  One  hymn  was  chosen 
for  each  letter  of  the  alphabet— from  "Abide  With  Me"  to  "Zion 
Stands,  By  Hills  Surrounded."  These  printed  lists  were  distributed 
among  the  people  of  the  church  and  "Review  Services"  were  held 
in  April  and  in  June,  at  which  the  hymns  were  called  for  by  letter 
and  sung  with  much  enthusiasm. 

Later  in  the  same  year,  the  usual  devotional  meeting  on  Friday 
evening  was  given  over  to  a  particular  service.  Cards  were  sent 
each  member  of  the  congregation  with  the  request  that  they  fill  out 
a  certain  blank  with  "that  name  or  title  of  our  Lord,  or  that 
attribute  of  His  character,  the  remembrance  of  which  had  been 
most  helpful  and  precious  during  the  past  five  months."  These 
cards  were  taken  or  sent  to  the  meeting  and  served  as  the  basis 
of  the  service. 


St.  Cloud  Church  79 

Perhaps  the  most  unique  occasion  ever  presided  over  by  Mr. 
Whitaker  was  the  following :  an  account  of  which,  entitled  "Three 
Score  Years  and  Ten,"  appeared  in  a  local  newspaper. 

"Nine  persons,  all  of  whom  had  reached  this  ripe  age,  the 
parishioners  and  friends  of  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Whitaker,  of  St.  Cloud, 
spent  the  afternoon  and  took  tea  with  him  last  Thursday.  The 
oldest  guest  had  passed  his  86th  birthday,  another  was  in  his  80th 
year,  another  was  78  years  old,  and  the  youngest  was  in  her  73rd 
year.  The  aggregate  age  of  the  little  company  was  688  years,  and 
the  average  age  was  nearly  77  years.  The  afternoon  was  spent  in 
mirthful  recollections  of  the  social  habits  and  the  domestic  cus- 
toms of  'ye  olden  time.'  One  told  how  she  was  taught  to  knit  in 
her  fourth  year;  another  spoke  of  his  experiences  in  the  war  of 
1812;  others  spoke  of  the  wide  fireplaces  and  the  painted  hearths, 
and  of  the  foot-stoves  and  the  corn-cob  embers.  One  of  the  com- 
pany described  a  log  house  which  stood  'between  the  mountains.' 
At  'early  candlelight'  the  tea  was  served,  and  the  cookies  and 
gingerbread  had  a  place  by  the  side  of  the  jelly  cake.  In  the 
evening  the  old-time  books  were  used — 'The  Easy  Instructor,'  by 
Little  &  Smith,  and  the  'New  Brunswick  Collection.'  From  these 
books,  with  the  'Patent  notes,'  the  company  joined  in  singing 
'Majesty,'  'Montgomery,'  'New  Jerusalem,'  'Coronation,'  'China,' 
'St.  Martin's  Ocean,'  and  'Ode  on  Science.'  As  the  leader  of  the 
treble  was  born  in  1802,  and  the  leader  of  the  bass  in  1806,  and 
all  before  1810,  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  singing 
was  'of  yore.'  The  guests  finished  their  visit  and  started  for  their 
homes  before  the  hour  at  which  the  first  guest  ventures  to  arrive 
at  some  social  gatherings  of  the  modern  kind." 


80  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


There  can  be  little  doubt  of  the  fact  that  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Whitaker  won  the  loyal  affection  of  his  parishioners.  We  read  of 
many  "Presentations"  during  the  17  years  of  his  pastorate,  to 
speak  of  merely  material  tokens  of  friendship.  He  was  literally 
untiring  in  originating  plans  for  the  interest  and  profit  of  the 
young  people  of  his  congregation.  Among  many  other  things  he 
organized  a  singing  class,  which  met  one  evening  a  week  in  the 
church.  It  was  very  popular  and  largely  attended.  He  also  formed 
a  class  in  stenography,  which  met  in  October,  1892,  in  the  chapel, 
and  continued  its  lessons  until  March  21st,  having  an  average 
attendance  of  sixteen.  Under  the  direction  of  the  teacher,  Mr. 
John  B.  Lander,  the  pupils  gained  a  good  knowledge  of  the  theory 
of  shorthand.  The  instruction  was  furnished  gratuitously.  The 
pupils,  in  recognition  of  the  kindness  of  their  teacher,  presented 
him  with  an  appropriate  gift. 

The  church  grew  and  prospered  under  Mr.  Whitaker 's  leader- 
ship. When  at  last  the  time  came  when  he  accepted  a  call  to 
another  church,  it  was  stated  that  during  his  ministry  the  church 
membership  had  increased  1,000  per  cent.,  or,  in  other  words,  that 
the  number  of  persons  included  in  the  church  membership  was 
equal  to  the  number  of  communicants  at  the  organization  of  the 
church  multiplied  by  eleven.  General  Randolph  B.  Marcy  joined 
the  St.  Cloud  Church  on  confession  of  faith  October  7th,  1877. 
The  strong  ties  of  seventeen  years  were  now  to  be  broken,  how- 
ever, and  on  the  25th  of  November,  1894,  at  the  close  of  his  anni- 
versary sermon  Mr.  Whitaker  announced  his  decision  to  the  con- 
gregation. 

"It  was  stated,"  says  a  newspaper  account  printed  at  the  time, 
"that  this  desire  of  the  pastor  was  not  due  to  a  sudden  decision. 


St.  Cloud  Church  81 

and  did  not  arise  from  recent  changes  in  the  field.  It  was  the  re- 
sult of  a  growing  conviction  concerning  personal  duty.  The  pastor 
reminded  the  people  that  he  had  known  the  church  in  every  year 
of  its  existence;  that  he  had  been  with  them  in  their  home  joys 
and  sorrows  for  almost  half  of  a  generation;  that  he  felt  bound 
to  them  by  ties  not  to  be  severed  without  great  sorrow  on  his  part. 
Reference  was  made  to  the  early  years  of  the  pastorate  and  to  the 
increased  value  and  convenience  of  the  church  property  at  pres- 
ent. Tender  words  were  spoken  concerning  the  changes  in  the 
congregation  by  reason  of  removals  and  deaths.  Dr.  Adams,  at 
whose  suggestion  the  pastor  was  called,  and  General  McClellan, 
in  whose  handwriting  the  document  was  drawn  up,  are  commem- 
orated by  tablets  on  the  walls.  Of  the  ministers  who  took  part 
in  the  installation,  Dr.  Parker,  Dr.  Yeomans  and  Dr.  Worcester 
have  died;  Dr.  Mix  and  Dr.  Green  have  moved  away.  Of  the 
original  elders  of  the  church  only  one  remains.  Pleasant  state- 
ments were  made  concerning  the  special  and  highly  successful 
financial  undertakings  of  the  present  year  and  the  excellent  pecun- 
iary condition  at  its  close  and  also  concerning  the  spiritual 
growth." 

A  full  report  of  this  congregational  meeting  clearly  shows  the 
deep  feeling  of  attachment  which  existed  between  Mr.  Whitaker 
and  his  people. 

"The  congregation  of  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church  held 
a  special  meeting  on  Monday  evening,  December  3rd,  to  act  upon 
the  resignation  of  their  pastor.  The  meeting  was  largely  attended. 
The  Rev.  John  M.  Thomas,  of  the  Arlington  Avenue  Presbyterian 
Church,  East  Orange,  acted  as  moderator,  and  Mr.  Wra.  N.  Will- 
iams, Clerk  of  the  Session,  was  secretary.  Mr.  Whitaker  pre- 
sented his  request  verbally,  that  his  congregation  unite  with  him 
in  asking  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange  to  dissolve  the 
pastoral  relation  which  had  existed  for  seventeen  years.    He  spoke 


82  St.  Cloud  Church 

with  tenderness  of  his  attachment  and  love  for  the  church  and 
people,  but  said  that  he  had  felt  for  some  time  that  the  day  was 
approaching  when  it  would  be  best  for  both  parties  to  make  a 
change,  and  the  circumstances  which  had  precipitated  the  parting 
at  this  time  had  come  to  him  entirely  unsought. 

"Mr.  Whitaker  then  withdrew  from  the  meeting  and  remarks 
were  made  by  Elders  E.  I.  Jacobus,  W.  N.  Williams  and  Theodore 
M.  Timms,  as  also  by  Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Kimball,  of  the  congre- 
gation. Very  deep  feeling  and  love  for  the  pastor  was  manifested, 
tears  filled  every  eye,  particularly  on  the  part  of  a  large  body  of 
young  people  who  have  grown  up  under  Mr.  Whitaker's  pastorate, 
and  to  whom  he  has  been  a  very  dear  and  helpful  friend.  The 
situation  was  the  more  sad  as  it  was  evident  to  all  that  no  induce- 
ment could  be  offered  to  keep  Mr.  Whitaker  in  this  small  field, 
which  is  not  capable  of  very  great  growth,  when  such  an  impor- 
tant work  called  him  away.  So  with  thankfulness  for  the  blessing 
of  many  years  of  valued  ministry,  the  vote  was  reluctantly  given, 
unanimously,  to  unite  with  the  pastor  in  his  request.  Elders  E.  I. 
Jacobus,  W.  N.  Williams,  with  Messrs.  W.  E.  Condit  and  A.  R. 
Kimball,  were  appointed  to  convey  the  request  to  Presbytery. 

"The  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange  held  a  special  meeting 
at  Chatham  on  Thursday  morning,  December  6th.  All  the  com- 
mittee were  present  and  addressed  the  Presbytery.  It  was  impos- 
sible to  speak  of  Mr.  Whitaker's  work  without  seeming  fulsome. 
He  was  known  to  be  so  useful  in  the  community  where  he  has 
labored,  as  well  as  wherever  he  is  known  throughout  the  bounds 
of  the  Presbytery.  As  Stated  Clerk  he  was  ideal.  His  place  could 
not  be  filled  and  the  pastors  of  all  the  churches  expressed  most 
sincere  regret  at  losing  his  companionship  and  help.  Mr.  Whitaker 
was  appointed  to  declare  the  pulpit  vacant  on  Sunday,  December 
9th,  and  the  Rev.  Stanley  White  was  named  to  act  as  Moderator 
of  the  session  of  the  church  in  the  interim. 


St.  Cloud  Church  83 

"At  the  close  of  the  evening  service  last  Sunday,  Mr.  Whitaker 
laid  aside  the  gown  which  was  given  to  him  many  years  ago  by 
the  church  and  in  which,  as  the  symbol  of  his  office,  he  said  he 
had  tried  to  be  faithful.  The  occasion  was  a  most  pathetic  one 
and  never  to  be  forgotten  by  all  those  who  were  present. 

"Mr.  Whitaker's  last  service  at  St.  Cloud  will  be  on  Sunday, 
December  23rd,  when  he  will  preach  in  the  morning  and  conduct 
the  communion  service  in  the  afternoon  at  3:30  o'clock. 

"The  church  at  St.  Cloud  is  left  in  excellent  condition,  having 
a  beautiful  church  edifice  with  a  comfortable  parsonage,  and  no 
debt  except  a  small  amount  unpaid  on  the  latter.  The  congrega- 
tion is  united  and  earnest.  The  church  has  become  a  center  of 
great  usefulness  in  all  the  mountain  region,  and  its  helpful  influ- 
ences have  extended  in  many  lines  far  beyond  its  own  territory." 

The  Evangelist  of  December  6th,  1894,  gives  the  following 
tribute  to  the  value  of  Mr.  Whitaker's  work  at  St.  Cloud: 

"To  this  field  Mr.  Whitaker  came  seventeen  years  ago,  a 
young  man,  only  a  year  out  of  the  theological  school,  but  animated 
by  consecration,  zeal,  and  practical  wisdom.  Soon  every  home 
within  reach  of  the  church  found  in  him  its  most  cordial  friend 
and  wise  helper.  All  classes  in  the  community  worked  faithfully 
together,  the  church  became  the  centre  of  good  influences  for  all 
that  country-side,  and  while  in  every  way  the  church  was  faithful 
in  all  its  denominational  attachments  and  contributions,  yet  Mr. 
Whitaker's  influence  was  such  that  members  of  many  denomina- 
tions were  made  at  home  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  practical 
work  of  the  church.  At  a  communion  service  representatives  of 
eight  denominations  have  been  present.  The  interest  of  the  whole 
community  was  stimulated  in  various  lines  of  missionary  and 
philanthropic  work. 

"Being  an  extensive  traveler  as  opportunity  offered,  Mr. 
Whitaker  has  brought  to  this  quiet  rural  community  the  result  of 


84  St.  Cloud  Church 

his  careful  observation,  a  wealth  of  interesting  information,  inci- 
dent, and  description  which  has  been  highly  valued. 

"Those  who  have  been  familiar  with  this  church  from  the 
beginning,  feel  that  it  will  be  impossible  to  speak  too  highly  of 
the  influence  of  Mr.  Whitaker  for  all  that  is  best,  in  the  past  as 
well  as  the  present  excellent  condition  of  the  church.  This  great 
sphere  of  labor  held  him  longer  than  any  one  dared  to  hope, 
and  he  is  followed  to  a  wider  field  with  the  affection  and  interest 
of  a  very  large  circle  in  all  the  churches  of  this  Presbytery  of 
Morris  and  Orange." 


St.  Cloud  Church  85 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A  committee  to  supply  the  pulpit  and  recommend  a  pastor 
was  appointed,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Jacobus,  Williams,  and  Timms, 
together  with  Messrs.  Brown,  Condit,  and  Kimball.  Soon  after 
the  appointment  of  the  committee,  Mr.  Brown's  son,  the  Rev. 
William  Adams  Brown,  wrote  to  the  Rev.  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich, 
a  graduate  of  Union  Theological  Seminary,  who  had  been  the 
assistant  to  Dr.  Parkhurst  of  New  York  and  who,  at  the  time, 
was  traveling  in  Europe.  He  asked  his  friend  "to  be  on  the 
look-out  for  someone  for  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  and  asked  if  he 
himself  would  favorably  consider  a  call."  The  answer  to  this 
letter  was  received  late  in  January,  1895,  and  intimated  that 
"Mr.  Goodrich  was  not  unfavorably  disposed  to  the  idea."  The 
committee  continued  to  communicate  with  him  and  in  the  Orange 
Chronicle  for  April  6,  1895,  we  find  an  account  of  the  congrega- 
tional meeting  held  to  proffer  the  church's  call  to  Mr.  Goodrich. 

"A  special  meeting  of  the  congregation  of  the  St.  Cloud 
Church  was  held  Wednesday  evening  to  hear  a  report  from  the 
committee  appointed  to  recommend  a  candidate  for  pastor.  The 
Rev.  Stanley  White  presided  and  conducted  the  opening  religious 
exercises.  Mr.  Timms  gave  an  extended  account  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  committee  and  of  the  circumstances  which  had  called 
its  attention  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Goodrich  as  a  candidate  for  the  pas- 
torate. Mr.  Timms  stated  that  there  had  been  at  least  25  appli- 
cants for  the  charge,  but  that  Mr.  Goodrich  had  seemed  most 
eminently  fitted  for  it,  and  that  at  last,  after  considerable  delay  in 
correspondence,  owing  to  the  fact  of  his  absence  m  Europe,  the 
committee  had  received  so  satisfactory  a  reply  that  it  wished  to 
report  the  facts  at  once. 

•  "Mr.  Kimball  related  in  full  Mr.  Goodrich's  record  since  his 


86  St.  Cloud  Church 

graduation  from  college,  and  read  letters  from  several  professors 
at  Yale  and  at  Union  Theological  Seminary.  All  of  these  paid 
a  high  tribute  to  his  judgment  and  scholarship,  devotion  to  work, 
principles,  winning  manners,   unassuming  character  and  worth. 

"Mr.  Brown,  who  knows  Mr.  Goodrich  personally,  spoke  warmly 
of  him,  both  as  a  man  and  as  a  preacher,  and  read  a  letter  from 
Dr.  Parkhurst,  who  stated  that  he  had  so  large  a  respect  and 
regard  for  Mr.  Goodrich  that  he  should  await  with  interest  any 
information  on  his  plans.  'He  is  the  best  all-around  man  I  ever 
saw,'  said  Dr.  Parkhurst. 

"Mr.  Kimball  then  read  Mr.  Goodrich's  letter  to  the  committee, 
dated  at  Munich  on  March  6th,  and  referring  to  such  matters  as 
vacations,  time  for  study,  time  of  arrival,  etc.  Mr.  Goodrich 
stated  that  he  could  not  see  his  way  clear  to  begin  work  before 
September  1st,  for  he  should  hesitate  to  do  so  during  the  summer, 
and  there  were  matters  that  would  require  his  attention  between 
July,  when  he  would  return  to  this  country,  and  September. 

"After  time  had  been  given  for  remarks  and  discussion,  a 
motion  was  offered  that  'the  committee  be  requested  to  communi- 
cate to  Mr.  Goodrich  the  decision  of  the  congregation  that  he 
become  their  pastor.'  The  vote  was  taken  by  ballot,  and  was 
reported  carried." 

The  committee  at  once  cabled  to  Mr.  Goodrich  the  action 
of  the  church,  and  mailed  him  a  formal  statement  of  the  meeting. 
His  acceptance  was  prompt.  The  Orange  Chronicle  for  Saturday, 
May  11th,  1895,  published  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  Good- 
rich: 

Letter  from  Rev.  C.  W.  Goodrich. 

"Gentlemen: — Your  communication  of  April  3,  in  behalf  of 
the  community  of  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which 
you  inform  me  of  the  desire  of  the  church   and   congregation 


St.  Cloud  Church  87 

formally  expressed   at  the  meeting  on  April   3,   that   I    should 
become  their  pastor,  was  received  yesterday. 

"I  think  there  is  little  need  to  assure  you  of  my  appreciation 
of  the  privilege  of  service  for  Christ  among  these  people,  and  of 
the  kindly  feeling  manifested  in  their  choice  of  one  as  their 
pastor  who  as  yet  is  personally  known  to  but  few  of  their  number. 
To  their  request  that  I  shall  take  up  my  ministry  with  them,  I  give 
my  cordial  assent,  and  although  some  of  the  requirements  of  Pres- 
byterian usage  remain  to  be  fulfilled,  I  shall  consider  myself 
pastor-elect  with  the  expectation  of  taking  my  place  in  their 
church  early  in  September,  the  understanding  with  regard  to 
compensation,  etc.,  being  indicated  in  your  conmiunication  now 
before  me. 

"With  the  prayer  that  our  common  service  in  the  name  of 
Christ  may  be  greatly  blessed  in  the  building  up  of  His  kingdom, 
"Yours  with  cordial  regard, 

"Chauncey  W.  Goodrich. 

"Berlin,  April  18,  1895," 

The  congregation  then,  formally,  by  a  rising  vote,  elected 
Mr.  Goodrich  pastor  of  the  church  and  appointed  Messrs.  Jacobus 
and  Kimball  as  a  committee  to  present  the  matter  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Morris  and  Orange  at  its  next  meeting. 


88  St.  Cloud  Church 

CHAPTER  XX. 

The  new  minister  came  in  September  according  to  the  agree- 
ment. Soon  after  his  arrival  a  reception  to  meet  him  and  Mrs. 
Goodrich  was  given  at  Brighthurst,  to  which  a  large  number  of 
St.  Cloud  people  and  out-of-town  guests  were  invited.  An  account 
of  his  installation  taken  from  various  newspapers,  gives  the 
following  details: 

"The  Rev.  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich,  pastor  of  the  St.  Cloud 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  West  Orange,  was  formally  installed  last 
evening  (Tuesday,  October  15,  1895)  in  the  presence  of  a  large 
number  of  the  residents  of  St.  Cloud.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  Dr.  Charles  H.  Parkhurst  of  New  York.  The  constitutional 
questions  were  propounded  and  the  prayer  of  installation  was 
offered  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Townsend,  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Orange.  The  charge  to  the  pastor  was  by  the 
Rev.  Wm.  Adams  Brown." 

This  was  an  impressive  scene.  The  young  professor,  a  friend 
and  classmate  of  the  new  pastor,  rose  slowly  and  with  gentle, 
quiet  dignity  and  in  terms  of  genuine  affection  charged  his  young 
friend,  touching  the  duties  he  owed  to  himself  and  the  congrega- 
tion. "You  are  beginning,"  said  the  speaker,  "what  is  in  a  true 
sense  the  first  independent  work  of  your  life.  You  have  had 
hard  and  responsible  work  to  do  before  this,  of  course;  but  in 
the  main  you  have  been  under  another  man's  authority,  doing 
what  another  bade  you,  and  running  whither  another  sent  you. 
Now  you  are  to  stand  forth  alone, — alone,  that  is,  so  far  as  human 
aid  and  guidance  goes.  All  paths  lie  open  before  you.  The 
history  of  the  church  and  this  community  in  the  next  few  years 
will  be,  under  God,  largely  what  you  make  it.  He  would  be  less 
than  human  who  did  not  feel  in  this  thought  a  mighty  inspiration 
stirring  him  to  action.  The  field  may  be  small  in  area,  but  it  is 
great  in  possibility."  He  further  charged  him  "to  be  patient" 
and  to  "lean  hard  upon  God,"  concluding  as  follows: 


St.  Cloud  Church  89 

"You  remember  that  scene  in  Bethany,  described  in  the  Gospel 
of  Luke :  Martha,  anxious  and  troubled  about  many  things ;  Mary, 
sitting  silent  at  the  Master's  feet.  One  thing  is  needful.  I  charge 
you,  my  brother,  for  yourself  and  for  these  people,  that  you 
choose  that  good  part." 

Dr.  Smythe,  who  has  many  friends  at  St.  Cloud,  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  people.  He  asked  the  congregation  to  revere  and 
respect  the  pastor,  for  it  had  been  said  that  a  congregation  treated 
its  ministers  in  three  ways:  first,  they  caressed  him;  secondly,  they 
criticised  him;  and  finally  they  censured  him.  He  asked  them  tc 
go  to  Mr.  Goodrich  with  their  troubles;  if  they  didn't  like  his 
preaching  they  were  not  to  whisper  it  'round,  but  "go  to  him 
first,  in  an  open,  manly  way — give  him  your  confidence,"  and, 
added  Dr.  Smythe,  "pay  him  his  salary,  all  that  you  promised 
and  as  much  more  as  you  can  aff"ord,  because  ministerial  piety, 
however  exalted,  does  not  pay  the  butcher,  tailor,  and  bookseller. 
Pay  him  promptly,  cheerfully,  generously.  People  seem  to  think 
that  poverty  is  essential  to  piety,  especially  in  a  minister." 

The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Whitaker  was  read  by  Dr. 
Smythe : 

Letter  from  Rev.  W.  F.  Whitaker. 

"My  Dear  Dr.  Smythe: — Today's  mail  informs  me  that  the 
charge  to  the  people  at  St.  Cloud  has  been  assigned  to  you.  I  am 
very  glad  that  the  duty  has  not  fallen  to  a  stranger.  They  are  a 
good  people,  a  people  that  I  loved,  love  now,  and  shall  love;  a 
people  that  I  sought  to  serve  with  my  best  efforts  for  a  decade 
and  a  half,  a  people  never  to  be  forgotten  because  of  kindness 
shown  in  many  ways.  In  your  visits  you  have  learned  something 
of  the  sterling  worth  of  the  congregation  found  among  those  hills 
and  valleys. 

"I  could  suggest  many  things  for  your  official  utterance,  but 
your   wisdom   and   experience   will    supply   all   needful   themes. 


90  St.  Cloud  Church 

You  cannot,  however,  speak  from  a  personal  acquaintance  of  more 
than  a  dozen  snows,  but  if  you  are  disposed,  you  may  convey  to  the 
people  the  salutation  of  the  first  man  installed  within  those  walls. 
Give  them  the  greeting  of  their  absent  friend,  and  assure  them 
that  his  prayer  for  them  runs  along  the  lines  of  Eph.  iii:  14-21. 

"Fraternally, 

"Albany,  October  14th,  1895."  "W.  F.  Whitaker. 

Mr.  Goodrich  was  then  publicly  congratulated  by  Dr.  Town- 
send  and  all  the  congregation  shook  his  hand  heartily. 

The  new  pastor  was  much  beloved  for  his  unassuming  ways 
and  his  popularity  increased  daily.  He  was  an  excellent  preacher 
and  untiring  in  his  pastoral  work.  Mrs.  Goodrich  was  greatly 
interested  in  the  cause  of  foreign  missions  and  gave  much  thought 
and  time  to  preparation  for  the  Women's  Missionary  Meetings, 
and  was  faithful  in  her  efforts  to  arouse  enthusiasm.  There  are 
few  formal  records  left  of  the  five  and  a  half  years  of  Mr. 
Goodrich's  work  in  the  St.  Cloud  parish.  The  church  paper  was 
not  continued  and  the  custom  of  printing  church  calendars  and 
annual  reports  had  not  yet  begun,  but  the  years  were  full  and 
bore  fruit,  as  shown  by  the  lasting  friendship  between  pastor  and 
people.  In  the  spring  of  1901  the  congregation  was  saddened  by 
the  following  announcement  which  Mr.  Goodrich  gave  from  the 
pulpit: 

"It  may  be  remembered  by  some  of  the  congregation  that  a  few 
weeks  ago  I  was  called  by  business  to  my  early  home,  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  While  there  I  was  invited  to  preach  in  the  Bolton  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church — a  church  in  which  I  naturally  had  a  warm 
interest,  as  it  is  an  off-shoot  from  the  First  Church,  of  which  my 
father  was  long  pastor,  and  in  which  I,  myself,  first  confessed  my 
Christian  faith. 

"The  pulpit  of  that  church  is  now  vacant  and,  while  still  in 
Cleveland,  I  was  waited  upon  by  the  committee,  who  expressed 
their  strong  desire  that  I  would  consider  favorably  the  pastoral 


St.  Cloud  Church  91 

charge  of  this  church.  Close  upon  this  action  followed  a  unani- 
mous call  from  the  church  and  congregation  to  become  their 
pastor. 

"The  trying  nature  of  the  issue  brought  before  me,  you  will 
understand.  I  shall  suffer  a  wrench  of  heart  in  the  severance  of 
those  ties  which  have  grown  only  dearer  with  each  year  of  my 
service  here;  how  sad  the  thought  is  of  looking  no  more  into  your 
faces  to  speak  the  message  of  Christ  and  of  entering  no  more 
into  your  homes  where  I  have  longed  to  serve  you,  however  feebly 
I  have  realized  my  longing,  I  do  not  trust  myself  to  say. 

"It  is  of  God's  kindness  that  in  the  face  of  the  present  alterna- 
tive the  way  of  duty  is  perfectly  plain.  The  call  which  comes 
to  me  is  a  distinct  summons  along  the  path  of  promotion  to 
heavier  responsibility  and  larger  service,  for  which  increase  in 
years  and  experience  qualify  one,  and  in  loyalty  to  Him  whom 
I  desire  to  serve  to  the  utmost,  I  cannot  turn  my  back  upon  it. 

"In  order,  therefore,  that  I  may  accept  this  call,  I  herewith 
tender  my  resignation  as  pastor  of  this  church,  my  official  relation 
to  you  to  terminate  with  the  conclusion  of  the  services  of  Sunday, 
May  5th.  And,  in  accordance  with  the  vote  of  your  session,  I  ask 
this  church  and  congregation  to  meet  immediately  after  morning 
service  next  Sunday,  April  14th,  for  the  election  of  two  commis- 
sioners who  shall  appear  before  the  Presbytery  with  your  pastor 
to  request  the  acceptance  of  this  resignation. 

"It  is  with  some  reluctance  that  on  this  day  of  Easter  joy  I 
have  brought  this  message  of  sad  import.  But  the  best  interests 
of  the  church  permitted  no  delay,  nor  can  I  wholly  regret  that  if 
I  must  needs  speak  as  I  have,  it  is  on  an  occasion  when  as  a  house- 
hold of  faith  we  are  gathered  in  the  intimacy  of  this  service  at 
the  Lord's  table,  strengthened  by  that  heavenly  bread  which  sus- 
tains in  every  trial  and  in  the  felt  presence  of  Him  who,  amid  all 
the  changes  of  life,  is  evermore  our  Savior,  our  Guide,  our 
Friend." 


92  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Mr.  Goodrich's  resignation  was  accepted  and  the  committee 
appointed  to  choose  a  pastor  to  fill  his  place  suggested  the  name 
of  the  Rev.  Robert  Gardner  McGregor,  of  Utica,  assistant  to  Dr. 
Terry.  He  had  been  Bible  instructor  at  the  Hill  School  for  Boys, 
and  was  highly  recommended.  At  a  congregational  meeting  held 
in  October  (1901)  a  unanimous  call  was  extended  to  Mr.  Mc- 
Gregor, whose  acceptance  was  as  follows : 

Letter  from  Rev.  R.  G.  McGregor. 

"To  the  Members  of  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church  and  Con- 
gregation : 

"My  dear  People: 

"It  was  with  great  pleasure  that  I  received  the  formal  call  to 
become  pastor  of  the  little  church  you  love  so  much  and  it  is 
with  greater  pleasure  that  I  now  write  you  of  my  hearty  accept- 
ance of  it.  This  conclusion  is  reached  in  no  haste,  but  after 
much  deliberation  and  prayer.  I  tried  to  run  away,  but  could  not. 
Today  I  feel  confident  that  my  work  lies  with  and  among  you, 
and  with  God's  help,  I  believe  that  it  will  be  a  blessed  work.  I 
shall  come  to  you  strong  in  the  faith  that  God  lives,  that  Christ 
needs  men  and  that  men  need  Christ,  and  to  this  end  I  shall  labor. 

"Word  has  come  to  me  that  the  call  is  unanimous.  I  rejoice 
in  this,  and  trust  that  the  spirit  of  unanimity  and  honest  deter- 
mination may  animate  all  our  efforts. 

"For  many  reasons  it  seems  best  that  the  work  should  be  com- 
menced at  once.  God  willing,  therefore,  I  Avill  come  to  you  dur- 
ing the  week  beginning  November  third. 


St.  Cloud  Church  93 

"May  God  bless  you  and  keep  you.      May  He  make  His  face  to 
shine  upon  you  and  be  gracious  unto  you  until  life's  end. 
"Most  sincerely  and  affectionately  yours, 

"Robert  Gardner  McGregor. 
"New  York  City,  October  31st,  1901." 

There  was  no  delay  in  installing  the  new  pastor.  On  Novem- 
ber 15th,  three  weeks  after  his  arrival,  he  was  installed  with  cus- 
tomary ceremonies. 

A  large  congregation  attended  the  service.  The  Rev.  John  F. 
Patterson,  pastor  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church,  was  the 
moderator,  and  he  put  the  constitutional  questions  and  offered  the 
prayer  of  installation.  After  the  congregation  had  sung  the  hymn, 
"The  Church's  One  Foundation,"  Dr.  Smythe,  of  East  Orange, 
read  the  Scriptural  selection  and  then  Dr.  Roderick  Terry  offered 
a  prayer.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Dr.  Charles  Cuthbert 
Hall,  president  of  Union  Seminary;  Prof.  Wm.  Adams  Brown,  of 
New  York,  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  the  charge  to 
the  people  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Whitaker,  of  Albany, 
a  former  pastor  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church.  After  the  Doxology  had 
been  sung  the  newly-installed  pastor  pronounced  the  benediction. 

Mr.  McGregor  was  a  hearty  and  energetic  pastor  and  most 
faithful  in  his  work  at  St.  Cloud.  One  of  the  most  important 
and,  perhaps,  characteristic  accomplishments  during  the  five  years 
of  his  pastorate  was  the  securing  of  a  parish  house,  which  was 
needed  as  a  social  center  for  the  community.  A  vigorous  news- 
paper article  entitled,  "Pastor  Starts  'Em  Digging,"  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  the  proceedings  in  the  year  1904: 

"If  the  backs  and  biceps  of  pastor  and  people  hold  out,  the 
St.  Cloud  Church  and  congregation  will  have  a  parish  house  be- 
fore snow  flies.  And  at  the  first  signs  of  the  weakening  of  the 
muscles  of  the  laity,  the  boundless  enthusiasm  of  a  husky  young 


94  St.  Cloud  Church 

pastor  will  be  ready  to  hearten  the  lay  brethren  who  may  have 
become  weary  in  well  doing.  When  the  Rev.  Robert  McGregor, 
an  all-round  graduate  of  Hamilton  College,  came  to  the  little 
mountain  church,  he  enlisted  the  interest  of  the  young  men  of  the 
community  by  organizing  a  baseball  team,  of  which  he  was  a 
member.  The  young  men  fell  in  with  the  idea  and  on  Saturday 
afternoon  many  more  than  the  nine  men  gathered  on  the  field. 
The  idea  was  a  great  success.  But  that  was  in  the  open  season. 
When  the  cold  weather  came  on,  the  church  had  no  meeting  place 
where  the  men  could  get  together  in  the  cold  evenings.  A  parish 
house  was  needed  and  this  spring,  one  fine  Sunday  morning,  Mr. 
McGregor  told  his  people  that  he  wanted  one  for  their  use  and 
he  wanted  them  to  build  it  from  foundation  up  themselves.  He 
said  he'd  work  with  the  rest. 

"The  congregation  responded  with  enthusiasm.  Mr.  John 
Crosby  Brown,  head  of  the  banking  house  of  Brown  Brothers  & 
Co.,  gave  a  plot  of  ground  a  short  distance  from  the  church.  Mr. 
Adams  Delano,  a  New  York  architect,  drew  the  plans.  Mr.  Frye, 
a  mason  builder,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Buten  &  Frye,  said 
he'd  oversee  the  work.  Some  of  the  farmers  who  have  stone  quar- 
ries on  their  farms  agreed  to  provide  the  stone  for  the  foundation. 
Others  promised  the  lumber  and  shingles  and  Mr.  McGregor,  one 
bank  clerk,  one  inventor,  a  wholesale  butcher,  three  florists,  and 
some  others  promised  to  dig  for  the  foundation. 

"The  first  shovelful  of  earth  was  taken  out  on  July  4th,  Mr. 
Brown  handling  the  shovel.  Every  fair  evening  from  then  on,  the 
congregation  has  been  digging  away  up  over  the  summit  of  Or- 
ange Mountain.  They  will  have  to  dig  two  trenches  thirty  feet 
long  for  the  sides  and  two  trenches,  one  twenty-six  feet  long  and 
the  other  thirty-six  feet  long,  for  the  ends. 

"By  the  time  they  have  finished,  the  stone  will  be  on  the 
ground,  and  the  masons,  amateurs  and  professionals,  will  begin 


St.  Cloud  Church  95 

their  part  of  the  work.  Then  the  carpenters  will  finish  the  job. 
There  are  seven  carpenters  in  the  congregation  and  they  will 
attend  to  that  end  of  it.  The  house  will  be  all  ready  for  use  this 
winter." 

The  dedication  of  the  completed  parish  house,  which  took 
place  in  the  fall,  was  quite  a  unique  occasion. 

The  men  who  did  the  actual  work  on  the  building  sat  down  at 
6:30  o'clock  to  a  dinner  which  had  been  prepared  under  the 
supervision  of  Mrs.  McGregor,  wife  of  the  pastor,  assisted  by  a 
dozen  young  women  of  the  parish.  There  were  twenty-six  at  the 
table,  which  was  decorated  with  roses,  carnations  and  chrysanthe- 
mums. When  the  dinner  had  been  served  the  tables  were  cleared 
away  and  the  room  was  soon  crowded  with  the  residents  of  the 
mountain  and  members  of  the  congregation.  Mr.  E.  H.  Moore, 
president  of  the  Men's  Club,  presided. 

Mr.  Brown  gave  reminiscences  of  St.  Cloud.  He  recalled 
those  who  had  been  active  in  the  social  and  religious  life  of  the 
congregation  and  spoke  of  the  library  building  which  had  once 
stood  on  the  Fuller  place.  He  referred  to  the  connection  the 
mountain  has  with  the  outside  world  by  reason  of  its  residents, 
and  alluded  to  the  fact  that  the  President's  sister  lived  on  the 
mountain.    He  paid  a  tribute  to  President  Roosevelt. 

Mrs.  Robinson,  the  sister  of  the  President,  expressed  her  ap- 
preciation of  the  words  spoken  in  praise  of  her  brother  and  of 
the  honor  which  had  been  done  him  by  the  mention  of  his  name. 

Mr.  McGregor  spoke  on  the  name  and  purposes  of  the  new 
building.  He  said  that  fifty-three  men  had  worked  on  it  since  the 
ground  was  broken  on  July  4th,  1904,  and  that  thanks  were  due 
especially  to  Mr.  Brown,  who  donated  the  lot;  to  Mr.  Adams 
Delano,  the  architect,  and  to  Messrs.  Herman  Frye,  Charles  Dean, 
John  Olstead,  George  Waldman,  George  Strobert,  and  Augustus 
Ochs,  for  their  work. 


96  St.  Cloud  Church 

Addresses  were  also  made  by  Messrs.  Timms,  Kimball  and 
Robinson.  A  resolution  was  adopted  thanking  the  pastor  for  the 
energy  manifested  by  him  in  securing  the  building. 

The  new  structure  cost  $1,400,  which  was  exclusive  of  labor, 
as  all  those  who  worked  on  it  gave  their  services  free.  There  were 
three  rooms,  the  main  auditorium  seating  one  hundred  and  twenty. 
The  Men's  Club  room  contained  a  blue-stone  fireplace  and  was 
fitted  up  with  dishes  and  cooking  utensils  contributed  by  the 
Ladies'  Missionary  Society. 

A  great  deal  of  interest  was  taken  in  the  raising  of  the  "Parish 
House  Fund."  Rummage  sales,  useful  sales,  and  entertainments 
were  held  and  quite  a  sum  of  money  was  thus  raised.  As  soon 
as  the  parish  house  was  opened,  it  was  used  on  Tuesday  and  Thurs- 
day afternoons  and  evenings,  and  later  entertainments  were  given 
there.  A  library  was  opened,  classes  of  various  kinds  were  held, 
and,  altogether,  the  parish  had  reason  to  be  glad  of  its  new  acquisi- 
tion. 

The  library  was  opened  and  the  first  entertainment  given  in 
January,  1905.  The  latter  consisted  of  a  musical  program,  several 
tableaux,  and  a  rendering  of  the  comedy  sketch,  "Thirty  Minutes 
for  Refreshments."  The  library  was  organized  as  a  branch  of  the 
Orange  Free  Library,  with  Miss  Emma  Stenken  in  charge,  January 
17,  1905.  Mrs.  Alfred  Jenkins,  President  of  the  Orange  Library, 
and  Miss  Elizabeth  Rowland  Wesson,  librarian,  explained  the 
scope  of  the  institution  and  sent  up  a  number  of  books. 

The  following  year,  1906,  the  Men's  Club  started  the  custom 
of  celebrating  Washington's  birthday  by  a  big  annual  dinner  with 
toasts,  speeches,  etc.,  which  has  been  preserved  to  the  present  day. 
Nearly  one  hundred  guests  were  present  at  the  first  dinner.  The 
parish  house  was  appropriately  decorated  with  American  flags  and 
red,  white  and  blue  streamers.  After  an  excellent  menu  had  been 
served,  the  toastmaster,  Mr.  Brown,  was  introduced  by  Peter  Duflf, 


St.  Cloud  Church  97 

president  of  the  club.  Before  the  speech  making,  the  guests  drank 
the  health  of  President  Roosevelt,  and  sang  "My  Country  Tis  of 
Thee."  State  Senator  Everett  Colby,  the  guest  of  the  evening, 
spoke  of  reform  movements  in  New  Jersey  state  government.  He 
received  an  ovation  as  he  rose  and  even  greater  applause  at  the 
close  of  his  address. 

Mr.  Treadwell  Cleveland  followed  with  a  short  speech  con- 
trasting Washington  with  public  men  of  the  present  day.  After 
this,  Dr.  James  Ludlow,  pastor  of  the  Munn  Avenue  Presbyterian 
Church,  East  Orange,  brought  a  greeting  from  the  Men's  Club  of 
that  church,  and  Mr.  McGregor,  the  last  speaker  of  the  evening, 
spoke  on  "The  Why  of  Our  Being  Here,"  mentioning  the  success 
of  the  recently-organized  Men's  Club  and  outlining  plans  for 
future  work. 

Sales,  fairs,  etc.,  were  often  held  in  the  building,  usually  for 
the  benefit  of  the  library  or  parish  house,  sometimes  for  such 
projects  as  the  Church  Repair  Fund,  etc.  It  continued  to  be  a 
community  center  until  the  summer  of  1910,  when  it  was  super- 
seded by  a  beautiful  new  building. 

In  the  summer  of  1905  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange 
held  its  second  stated  meeting  at  St.  Cloud.  An  amusing  incident 
in  connection  with  this  meeting  still  lives  in  the  memory  of  the 
St.  Cloud  people. 

Previous  to  the  afternoon  session  a  dinner  was  served  in  the 
new  parish  house  by  the  women  of  the  church.  Some  merriment 
v/as  created  at  the  dinner  when  it  was  announced  by  Mr.  McGregor 
that  he  had  been  authorized  by  Mrs.  Robert  Baird,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  church,  to  purchase  a  large  saloon  for  the  benefit 
of  the  clergymen  attending  the  meeting.  Although  this  announce- 
ment by  the  pastor  seemed  incredible,  Mr.  McGregor  proved  his 
statement  by  producing  a  dispatch  signed  by  Mrs.  Baird,  which 
read  as  follows: 


98  St.  Cloud  Church 

"Kindly  order  large  saloon.  Both  enjoying  trip.  Thanks  let- 
ters." When  the  laughter  had  abated,  Mr.  McGregor  attempted 
to  explain.  For  several  weeks  the  women  of  St.  Cloud  had  been 
preparing  for  the  entertainment  of  the  delegates  to  the  meeting, 
and  included  in  the  arrangements  were  elaborate  preparations  for 
the  luncheon.  Mrs.  Baird  had  agreed  to  furnish  a  twenty-five 
pound  salmon,  but  received  a  hurried  call  to  Europe  a  few  days 
before.  In  the  confusion  of  leaving,  the  salmon  was  forgotten  and 
nothing  was  thought  of  the  big  fish  until  Monday,  when  the  pastor 
learned  that  none  had  been  provided.  An  investigation  was 
started,  but  neither  telephone,  messenger,  telegrams,  nor  letters 
were  successful  in  revealing  any  arrangement  for  furnishing  the 
desired  edible. 

At  last  Mr.  McGregor  and  his  congregation  gave  up  in  despair 
and  were  casting  their  nets  in  other  water  for  a  fish  to  make  the 
luncheon  menu  complete.  Affairs  took  a  new  turn  on  Monday, 
however,  when  a  Marconigram  came  from  Mrs.  Baird.  For  a  few 
minutes  after  reading  the  dispatch  the  pastor  was  indignant,  but 
on  further  consideration  he  decided  that  the  Marconi  operator  had 
mistaken  the  word  salmon  for  saloon. 

The  Marconigram  caused  much  merriment  and  Mr.  McGregor 
was  repeatedly  asked  if  he  had  made  the  necessary  arrangements 
to  take  out  a  license. 

Not  long  after  this  well-remembered  Presbytery  meeting,  the 
St.  Cloud  Church  lost  the  pastor  who  had  added  so  much  to  the 
life  and  enthusiasm  of  the  parish. 

On  the  second  Sunday  in  April,  1906,  Mr.  McGregor  an- 
nounced to  the  congregation  his  decision  to  accept  the  call  offered 
him  by  the  North  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Rochelle, 
his  resignation  to  take  effect  the  last  week  in  June.  A  letter  writ- 
ten at  this  time  expresses  his  regret  at  leaving  the  St.  Cloud 
Church,  to  which  he  had  become  deeply  attached  during  his  pas- 


St.  Cloud  Church  99 

torate  of  four  years  and  a  half.  His  resignation  was  accepted  by 
the  congregation  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  secure  a  new 
pastor.  On  the  10th  of  June  a  farewell  reception  was  given  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGregor. 


100  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  pastor  chosen  by  the  committee  to  fill  the  vacant  pulpit 
was  the  Rev.  George  Kennedy  Newell,  a  graduate  of  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary  and,  at  the  time,  in  charge  of  the  City  Park 
Branch,  a  mission  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Brooklyn. 
The  Orange  Journal  for  September  22nd,  1906,  records  that: 

"The  congregation  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  by  a  unanimous 
vote,  Sunday  morning,  extended  a  call  to  the  Rev.  George  Ken- 
nedy Newell.  The  Rev.  John  M.  Thomas,  pastor  of  the  Arlington 
Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  East  Orange,  acted  as  moderator  of 
the  congregational  meeting.  Mr.  Timms,  one  of  the  elders  of  the 
church,  presented  a  report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  nominate 
a  new  pastor.  The  report  indorsed  Mr.  Newell  and  a  letter  from 
Mr.  John  Crosby  Brown  was  read  by  Mr.  Timms,  speaking  in  high 
terms  of  him  and  advocating  his  selection.  Mr.  Kimball  also 
spoke  in  indorsement  of  Mr.  Nev/ell.  A  committee  consisting  of 
Mr.  Timms  and  Mr.  Wm.  Edgar  Condit  was  appointed  to  present 
the  call  and  to  take  the  matter  before  the  Presbytery." 

An  account  of  the  installation  appeared  in  the  columns  of 
the  same  paper  in  the  following  week: 

"The  installation  services  at  the  St.  Cloud  Church  were  con- 
ducted by  direction  of  the  Presbytery  and  the  Rev.  Robert  Hast- 
ings Nichols,  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  and  pastor  of  Trinity 
Place  Church,  South  Orange,  presided  and  asked  the  constitutional 
questions.  The  installation  sermon  was  preached  by  Dr.  Wm. 
Adams  Brown,  of  the  faculty  of  Union  Theological  Seminary. 
The  charge  to  the  pastor  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Erd- 
man,  pastor  of  the  South  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Morristown, 
who  is  the  father-in-law  of  the  new  minister.  Mr.  McGregor  gave 
the  charge  to  the  people,  and  the  Rev.  Stanley  White,  pastor  of 


St.  Cloud  Church  101 

the  Hillside  Presbyterian  Church  of  Orange,  delivered  the  installa- 
tion prayer."  The  Journal  account  concludes  with  a  few  remarks 
about  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  and  refers  to  it  as  "one  of  the  most 
prosperous  churches  in  this  section  of  the  State." 

It  was  in  the  year  1908,  the  second  year  of  Mr.  Newell's  pas- 
torate, that  the  missionary  interest  of  the  church  was  concentrated 
upon  one  particular  field.  Lahore,  India,  was  chosen  as  St.  Cloud's 
"Parish  Abroad." 

From  the  very  first  the  church  had  been  vitally  interested  in 
missions.  Addresses  by  returned  missionaries  were  always  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  year's  program.  The  Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  was  strong.  The  girls'  band,  "The  Willing 
Workers,"  has  already  been  mentioned,  and  for  some  time  there 
was,  in  connection  with  this,  a  society  for  younger  girls  also, 
which  went  by  the  name  of  the  "Busy  Bees." 

Missionary  entertainments  were  given  and  also  stereopticon 
lectures,  parlor  meetings,  concerts,  etc.,  the  proceeds  of  which 
went  to  missionary  objects.  In  1894  a  missionary  library  had 
been  presented  to  the  church  by  Mrs.  Brown  in  memory  of  her 
grandfather,  Mr.  John  Adams. 

The  missionary  interest,  however,  as  is  often  the  case,  had  been 
scattered.  A  mere  glance  over  the  list  of  countries  named  by  Mr. 
Whitaker  in  1890  as  places  to  which  the  "Willing  Workers"  had 
sent  contributions  and  gifts,  is  enough  to  show  the  truth  of  this 
statement,  and  when  in  1908  this  interest  was  focused  on  one  field, 
it  was  felt  to  be  a  distinct  gain.  Lahore  is  still  St.  Cloud's  parish 
abroad,  and  interest  in  that  parish  has  increased. 


102  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


In  the  year  following  the  adoption  of  this  project  the  little 
church  suffered  a  severe  loss  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Brown,  one  of 
its  wisest  friends  and  most  loyal  supporters.  This  occurred  on 
June  25th,  1909.  The  annual  report,  published  in  the  following 
month,  expresses  the  grief  of  the  congregation : 

"As  we  close  our  church  year  and  note  the  work  that  has  been 
done,  we  have  to  record  the  most  trying  loss  that  this  church  and, 
indeed,  this  community  has  been  called  to  meet  in  the  course  of 
the  whole  thirty  years  of  its  existence. 

"On  June  25th,  after  a  long  and  painful  illness,  Mr.  John 
Crosby  Brown  passed  on  into  the  life  of  the  heavenly  world.  In 
all  these  years  he  has  been  the  generous  and  inspiring  leader  in 
every  movement  for  the  uplift  of  the  neighborhood.  In  church  at 
St.  Cloud,  in  the  weekly  meetings  for  devotion,  his  gentle  influence 
and  helpful  words  modestly  expressed  have  been  a  most  power- 
ful influence  for  good;  his  place  can  never  be  filled.  He  has 
been  preeminently  useful  and  highly  valued  in  the  great  world, 
religious  and  educational,  outside  of  our  mountain  community, 
but  in  no  place  will  his  memory  be  cherished  more  aff"ectionately 
than  here.  We  have  the  same  Leader  whom  he  followed  and  who 
inspired  his  every  act;  let  us  cheerfully  continue  in  the  coming 
years  to  promote  the  work  which  centers  about  this  church,  and 
with  the  blessing  of  God,  it  will  become  an  increasing  influence 
for  usefulness." 

Some  months  later,  on  the  17th  of  October,  a  tablet  to  the 
memory  of  Mr.  Brown  was  unveiled  at  the  St.  Cloud  Church.  The 
little  church  was  crowded.  The  pulpit  was  banked  with  palms 
and  with  chrysanthemums,  Mr.  Brown's  favorite  flower.  A  part 
in  the  service  was  taken  by  Dr.  William  F.  Whitaker,  pastor  of  the 


St.  Cloud  Church  103 

First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  who  was  for  seven- 
teen years  pastor  at  St.  Cloud,  by  Rev.  Robert  G.  McGregor,  of 
New  Rochelle,  who  was  pastor  from  1901  to  1906,  and  by  Rev. 
George  K.  Newell,  the  present  pastor.  A  letter  was  read  from 
Rev.  C.  W.  Goodrich,  pastor  of  the  American  Church  in  Paris, 
who  succeeded  Dr.  Whitaker  in  1895.  All  the  members  of  Mr. 
Brown's  family  were  present,  including  Mrs.  Brown,  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Wm.  Adams  Brown,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  C.  Moore,  Miss  Mary 
Magoun  Brown,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Crosby  Brown,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thatcher  M.  Brown,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  L.  DeForest. 

The  tablet  which  was  given  by  Mrs.  Brown  and  is  placed  on 
the  north  wall  of  the  church,  near  the  pew  Mr.  Brown  occupied, 
bears  this  inscription : 

In  memory  of  John  Crosby  Brown 

Born  May  22nd,  1838.         Died  June  25th,  1909 

He  that  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die.    St.  John  11:25-26 

This  verse  is  especially  appropriate,  for  while  he  lives  above  the 

stars  the  memory  of  his  earthly  life  bears  permanent  evidence  of 

his  thoughtfulness  for  others. 

"The  erection  of  this  memorial  and  expression  of  loving  re- 
membrance," said  Mr.  Newell,  "will  serve  the  purpose  of  true  re- 
ligion by  perpetuating  a  name  honored  and  beloved,  but  far  more 
by  perpetuating  a  faith.  Because  the  two  were  inseparable,  the 
man  and  the  faith,  we  include  his  name  upon  the  walls  of  this 
church  and  feel  that  it  is  to  the  glory  of  God." 

Dr.  Whitaker  next  spoke  as  follows: 

"To  stand  here  this  morning,  within  these  walls,  under  this 
roof,'  on  this  platform,  and  not  to  see  the  face  of  John  Crosby 
Brown,  is  a  strange  experience.  For  more  than  twenty-five  years 
he  has  been  associated  most  intimately  with  work  and  worship 
here,  walking  along  that  aisle,  filling  a  seat  in  yonder  pew,  stand- 


104  St.  Cloud  Church 

ing  at  this  desk.  For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has 
been  the  inspiration  and  associate  of  those  who  have  loved  this 
church.  Today,  when  the  pews  are  filled,  we  all  miss  the  one  face 
made  dear  by  these  many  years  of  fellowship.  We  do  miss  Mr. 
Brown.  The  chrysanthemum,  which  he  loved  so  well  and  de- 
lighted to  send  hither  to  beautify  the  House  of  God,  is  here  in  its 
beauty;  but  the  voice  of  one  who  invited  us  to  share  in  the  beauty 
of  the  roses  and  the  splendor  of  the  autumn  flowers,  as  they  grew 
at  his  home,  is  hushed  this  morning  as  we  enter  where  it  was  his 
delight  to  join  in  song  and  supplication. 

"Moreover,  it  is  strange  to  feel  his  absence  just  at  this  season. 
On  this  October  morning,  all  the  great  out-of-doors  is  aglow  with 
beauty,  ablaze  with  the  rich  colors  of  autumn,  in  hedge-row,  field 
and  forest.  The  dogwood,  catching  the  eye  in  the  spring  with  its 
welcome  white,  has  now  put  on  its  rich  attire  of  color.  How  he 
enjoyed  the  blossoms,  the  orderly  and  glorious  unfolding  of  the 
seasons!  How  dear  to  his  heart  was  the  realm  of  nature.  Two 
pictures  of  Mr.  Brown  are  held  in  precious  memory.  In  one  I  see 
the  face  of  the  thoughtful  man  of  large  aff"airs,  a  face  serious  but 
kind.  In  the  other  I  see  a  man  just  from  his  office,  free  for  the 
day,  putting  on  his  soft  hat,  shod  in  his  stout  boots,  with  Norfolk 
jacket  and  swinging  cane,  eager  for  the  fields,  ready  for  the  path- 
less woods,  a  lover  of  Nature. 

"He  had  a  manifest  fondness  for  the  region  lying  just  about  us. 
This  mountain  ridge,  and  the  parallel  valleys  which  guard  it, 
caught  the  eye  of  this  observer.  He  was  a  pioneer.  Here  in  the 
forest  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  country  home.  Here  in  the 
wood  he  made  new  paths,  or  guarded  with  care  those  which  were 
traced  in  an  earlier  century.  Here  on  this  mountain  he  found  rest, 
rest  amid  the  manifold  cares  of  a  busy  and  fruitful  life.  Here 
on  this  mountain  he  fell  asleep,  near  the  June  roses,  beneath  the 
tall  trees  of  the  forest. 


St.  Cloud  Church  105 

"But  he  found  delight  in  mountains  that  were  higher,  the  ranges 
clad  with  the  eternal  snows.  One  summer,  a  half  dozen  years 
ago,  I  found  him  amid  the  Alps,  in  the  Swiss  land.  There  he 
walked  and  thought  beneath  the  shadow  of  those  white  summits, 
those  massive,  majestic,  magnificent  peaks,  pointing  to  the  sky  and 
adorned  with  the  white  gifts  of  the  clouds.  What  refreshment  he 
found  in  that  atmosphere!  He  told  me  of  his  climbing;  he  gave 
the  narrative  of  a  recent  expedition  in  the  neighborhood.  It  was 
easy  to  see  that  his  soul  found  delight  in  this  communion  with  the 
high  hills.  This  gives  meaning  to  a  photograph  which  I  cherish. 
In  this,  the  center  of  the  picture  is  filled  by  a  pair  of  shoes.  These 
have  double-thick  soles,  two  rows  of  nails,  and  other  provision 
for  use  in  hard  climbing.  In  the  background  rise  the  high  Alps, 
the  mountains  he  so  loved  to  climb.  The  shoes  were  his,  but  never 
again  could  they  be  used.  The  medical  adviser  had  forbidden  the 
quest  of  such  high  altitudes.  There  was  no  whine  of  disappoint- 
ment, however.  The  sweet  spirit  of  full  resignation  breathes  from 
the  picture  of  the  old  companions  which  must  be  left  behind  for- 
ever. 

"A  mountain  is  unlike  a  plain.  With  one  stroke  of  the  eye, 
and  from  almost  any  point,  one  can  survey  all  parts  and  features 
of  the  level  expanse.  To  change  the  place  yields  no  special  change 
in  prospect.  But  the  tall  mountain  has  a  broad  base,  massive 
sides,  a  cluster  of  peaks,  a  lofty  summit.  To  see  it,  to  know  it, 
one  must  go  around  it.  No  two  glimpses  will  yield  exactly  the 
same  vision.  Mr.  Brown  was  like  the  mountains  which  he  loved 
so  well;  he  was  many-sided,  he  was  seen  to  advantage  from  many 
points  of  view.  Only  two  features  of  his  life  have  been  mentioned 
now;  he  loved  God;  he  loved  little  children. 

''He  loved  God.  For  this  reason  he  loved  Nature.  He  found 
an  index  of  God  in  this.  His  handiwork.  He  thought,  in  the  spirit 
of  Miss  Howett's  poem,  that  'God  might  have  made  the  earth  with- 


106  St.  Cloud  Church 

out  a  flower.'  But  the  flowers  were  divinely  ordered,  to  Vhisper 
hope,  to  comfort  God's  children.'  Thus  he  gave  heart  and  hand 
to  the  work  of  the  Flow^er  Mission.  This  beneficence  may  have 
been  born  of  a  woman's  thought,  but  the  efficient  oversight  of  Mr. 
Brown  made  it  possible  for  the  color  and  fragrance  of  the  gar- 
dens and  the  fields  to  find  their  way  to  the  humble  homes  in  the 
crowded  city.  This  was  reverent  service;  it  was  undertaken  as 
for  God.  In  the  prayer  in  his  own  home,  on  Sunday  evening,  how 
often  he  has  asked  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  little  bouquets 
to  go  forth  on  the  morrow,  making  petition  that  a  precious  mes- 
sage of  cheer  and  comfort  might  go  with  them  to  the  sick  and  sad, 
the  poor  and  lonely. 

"He  loved  God  in  His  works,  failed  not  to  honor  Him  in 
cherishing  His  day,  in  seeking  His  house,  in  studying  His  book, 
in  maintaining  fellowship  with  His  people.  What  a  rich  benedic- 
tion this  church  has  enjoyed  in  the  presence  here,  for  so  many 
years,  of  one  who  made  it  his  chief  end  to  glorify  God. 

"jfi^e  loved  little  children.  These  stand  at  the  other  end  of  the 
scale  of  being.  He  who  honors  God  and  has  manifest  concern  for 
little  children,  touches  the  termini,  and  between  these  no  good 
end  can  be  alien  to  his  eff"ort.  How  Mr.  Brown  did  love  the  little 
folk !  Whether  these  were  of  his  own  home  circle,  were  members 
of  the  Sunday  School  here,  or  were  those  brought  to  his  acres  from 
the  narrow  and  needy  streets  of  the  great  city,  the  children  never 
failed  to  make  an  appeal  to  his  great  heart.  The  'fresh  air'  work, 
carried  on  for  so  many  years  at  Brighthurst  with  that  inviting 
log  cabin  for  its  center,  bears  witness  to  no  ordinary  eff"ort  of  phil- 
anthropy. But  some  of  us  will  remember  best  Mr.  Brown's  min- 
istry as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School.  In  this  office,  the 
only  one  that  he  was  willing  to  accept,  you  have  seen  him  standing 
just  here,  at  this  desk,  leaning  over  it  in  his  earnest  address  to 
the  little  children  gathered  in  front  of  him.     No  picture  of  Mr. 


St.  Cloud  Church  107 

Brown  is  more  vivid.  In  thought,  in  precious  memory,  we  see  him 
now,  leaning  forward  a  little,  lifting  his  finger  in  emphasis,  rais- 
ing his  head  for  better  vision,  and  then  speaking  to  the  school  as 
tenderly  and  directly  as  though  all  were  of  one  family,  as  though 
each  child  were  in  his  care. 

"This  is  not  a  work  to  attract  public  notice.  Children  are 
not  'lions'  in  society;  children  are  not  'masters'  in  finance;  chil- 
dren are  not  'leaders'  in  the  affairs  of  State.  To  serve  them  seems 
to  be  giving  heed  to  trifles.  But  Mr.  Brown  knew  where  good 
work  would  tell  for  good.  An  eminent  member  of  the  Bar  of  New 
York  in  addressing  the  Alumni  of  a  prominent  New  England  col- 
lege, said  in  substance  that  he  had  been  impressed  with  the  futility 
of  legislation.  He  declared  that  the  statute-books  were  graveyards 
for  enactments  which  might  as  well  not  have  passed.  They  have 
amounted  to  little  in  shaping  the  course  of  the  world  or  in  guiding 
its  progress.  But  the  great  work  has  been  done  by  parents,  by 
teachers,  by  those  who  in  obscure  places  and  in  quiet  ways  have 
helped  to  shape  the  ideas  of  childhood.  Judged  by  this  standard 
of  service,  how  high  is  the  reward  of  one  who  was  willing  to  spend 
and  be  spent  for  little  children.  Spectacular  labors  abound; 
modest  ministries  are  overlooked.  Talking  to  a  Sunday  School,  in 
a  little  church,  on  a  mountain  apart;  this  may  call  forth  no  line 
of  notice  in  the  newspaper,  but  God  alone  knows  the  fruit  thereof. 

"The  decisions  of  the  great  Judgment  will  turn  upon  trifles. 
Little  deeds,  forgotten  deeds  will  have  weight.  We  are  going  on 
to  be  judged,  not  touching  the  great  aff"airs  of  life,  the  brave  un- 
dertakings, the  conspicuous  accomplishments,  but  concerning 
things  that  are  small,  so  small  that  they  are  not  always  remem- 
bered. When  saw  we?  Mr.  Brown  was  charged  with  great 
responsibilities;  he  had  part  in  world-wide  undertakings;  but  it  is 
a  pleasure  to  remember  this  day  his  faithfulness  in  that  which 
seemed  least. 


108  St.  Cloud  Church 

"Just  there,  on  that  tablet  near  his  pew,  we,  and  those  who 
come  after  us,  may  read  his  name;  but  with  his  own  life  he  wrote 
that  upon  our  hearts.  We  thank  God  today  for  our  memories  of 
one  who  has  inspired  us  with  a  deeper  desire  to  glorify  the  Most 
High  and  to  serve  the  most  humble. 

"The  inscription  on  the  tablet  needs  no  amendment,  but  one 
may  say  of  Mr.  Brown  in  truth  what  the  traveler  reads  upon  a 
marble  tablet  beyond  the  sea,  the  memorial  of  one  who 

"  'At  all  times  and  everywhere  gave 

his  strength  to  the  weak, 

his  substance  to  the  poor, 

his  sympathy  to  the  suffering,  and 

his  heart  to  God.'  " 

Following  an  address  by  Mr.  McGregor,  a  tribute  to  Mr.  Brown 
was  paid  by  Mr.  Newell,  who  also  made  the  announcement  that 
Mr.  Brown's  children  proposed  to  erect  a  Sunday  School  Building 
to  the  memory  of  their  father. 

Mr.  Newell  referred  to  his  association  with  Mr.  Brown  during 
the  three  years  of  his  pastorate  and  gave  some  impressions  of  his 
fellowship  with  him.  Speaking  first  of  the  power  of  reverence,  he 
said: 

"Reverence  is  an  attribute  of  character  of  those  who  are  truly 
great.  In  the  gospel  story  it  was  the  man  who  was  important 
enough  to  have  men  under  his  authority  who  felt  unworthy  of 
receiving  Jesus  under  his  roof.  So  in  the  life  we  remember  today 
the  great  influence  of  his  name  and  place  among  men,  the  very 
honor  that  all  accorded  him,  seemed  to  cause  a  deeper  reverence 
to  grow  in  his  heart  for  things  holy  and  sacred.  Such  reverence 
is  a  power.  It  binds  us  to  all  the  good  of  the  past  by  teaching 
respect  for  the  faith  which  made  our  fathers  great.     It  gives 


St.  Cloud  Church  109 

strength  for  the  present  struggle  by  recognition  of  the  hand  of 
God  in  this  day's  doings.  It  gives  confidence  for  the  future  as 
we  reverently  consider  the  power  of  the  love  of  God.  Reverence 
for  God  teaches  respect  for  one's  fellowmen,  and  that  wholesome 
self-respect  without  which  no  man  can  be  a  child  of  God. 

*'During  these  last  years  of  restricted  activity  it  has  been 
reserved  for  me  to  sound  some  of  the  depths  of  Mr.  Brown's  lov- 
ing interest  in  little  children,  and  of  his  hopes  for  the  youth  of 
today,  as  shown  in  his  conversations  and  in  his  prayers.  His 
familiar,  oft-repeated  petition  for  God's  blessing  upon  little  chil- 
dren  brought  all  who  heard  his  word  of  prayer  near  to  the  heart 
of  our  Father  in  heaven. 

"It  was  thoroughly  characteristic  of  Mr.  Brown  that  upon  our 
Children's  Day  services  on  June  13  last,  he  sent  a  word  of  greeting 
to  the  children  of  this  church;  his  last  message  to  us  was  a  mes- 
sage to  the  children.  Nothing  could  be  more  fitting  than  a 
memorial  erected  to  his  name  for  the  benefit  of  the  children  of 
his  parish. 

"It  is  my  great  joy  to  tell  you  that  because  of  Mr.  Brown's 
love  for  the  children,  provision  will  be  made  to  meet  the  cue  great 
need  of  this  church,  the  need  of  a  suitable  room  in  v.hich  to 
teach  the  children  the  truths  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"I  am  authorized  to  announce  that  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
Mr.  Brown  will  erect  and  present  to  this  church  a  memorial  Sun- 
day school  building.  This  new  home  for  the  Sunday  School  will 
preserve  for  generations  to  come  not  only  the  heritage  of  Mr. 
Brown's  name,  but  also  the  one  great  inheritance  of  his  life  most 
worthy  of  preservation— his  love  to  God  and  faith  in  Jesus  Christ. 
Here  will  be  taught  the  faith  by  which  Mr.  Brown  lived  and 
through  which  he  entered  into  life  eternal. 

"As  the  years  shall  bring  larger  opportunities  for  doinsr  the 
will  of  God  in  this  community,  through  the  grooving  influence  of 


110  St.  Cloud  Church 

the  John  Crosby  Brown  Memorial  Sunday  School  building,  this 
larger  memorial  outside  of  and  by  the  side  of  these  church  walls 
shall  bear  a  mighty  witness  to  the  text  which  we  have  written 
within  the  church,  'He  that  believeth  on  me  shall  never  die.'  " 


St.  Cloud  Church  HI 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

It  seems  not  inappropriate  to  insert  here  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Brown  written  in  Europe  in  1889.  It  was  sent  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitaker,  and  was  read  by  him  to  the  Sunday  School  on  an  anni- 
versary, Children's  Sunday: 

Letter  from  Mr.  J.  C.  Brown. 

"Langen  Schwalbach,  Germany,  May  26th,  1889. 
"My  dear  Children : 

"You  will,  I  hope,  be  expecting  to  hear  from  me  on  Children's 
Sunday,  and,  unless  some  accident  happens  to  this  letter  by  the 
way,  you  should  receive  it  in  time  for  our  usual  Children's  service. 

"First  of  all  you  will  want  to  know  where  I  am;  because  a 
message  always  means  more  when  one  knows  where  it  comes  from. 
If  you  will  look  on  your  map  of  Europe,  and  trace  the  great  river 
of  Germany,  the  Rhine,  from  its  mouth  in  the  North  Sea,  past 
Rotterdam  in  Holland,  Dusseldorf  in  Germany,  Cologne,  the  seat 
of  the  great  Gothic  cathedral,  but  which  you  will  remember  better 
from  the  name  it  has  given  to  the  sweet-smelling  liquid  which  so 
many  of  you  use;  then  still  farther  south,  past  Bonn,  the  seat  of 
one  of  the  great  German  universities;  then  still  farther  up  the 
swift-flowing  river,  now  with  its  banks  covered  with  vineyards 
stiff  and  ugly  in  their  spring  costume,  looking  like  fields  of  bare, 
short  poles  with  a  little  green  sprouting  at  their  base,  but  withal 
as  neat  as  a  freshly-raked  garden-bed;  passing  now  and  then  an 
old  castle  mostly  in  ruins,  perched  high  up  upon  the  hills;  still 
on  and  up  the  river  past  Coblentz,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river  the  fortress  of  Ehrenbreitstein,  which  Mr.  Whitaker  will 
tell  you  means  'The  broad  stone  of  honor'   (probably  from  the 


112  St.  Cloud  Church 

fact  that  only  thrice  in  its  long  history  has  it  ever  been  taken  by 
an  enemy — once  foully  betrayed  by  its  commanding  officer,  and 
twice  starved  into  surrender  after  all  food  had  been  consumed 
by  the  garrison)  ;  still  farther  south,  past  more  castles,  many  in 
ruins  and  all  with  a  romantic  history,  to  Bingen,  where  the  valley 
widens  out  and  the  river  makes  a  sudden  turn  to  the  east;  then  a 
few  miles  farther  up,  and  you  come  to  the  little  village  of  Elt- 
ville,  situated  in  a  perfect  garden  of  vineyards,  or  as  you  would 
say  at  this  time  of  year,  of  bare  poles  and  brown  earth. 

"Leaving  the  historic  river  here,  we  take  a  carriage  and  drive 
about  ten  miles  due  north,  first  through  the  vineyards  and  then 
up  a  narrow  pretty  wooded  valley  past  Schlangenbad,  a  famous 
German  bathing-place,  to  this  little  village  of  Schwalbach,  prettily 
situated  in  a  high  valley  two  hundred  feet  higher  than  the  top  of 
Orange  Mountain.  It  is  full  of  springs  of  water.  It  is  a  very 
quiet  little  place  for  most  of  the  year;  but  from  June  to  September 
it  is  filled  with  strangers  from  all  parts  of  the  world  seeking  rest 
and  health.    As  yet  there  are  not  many  people  here. 

"I  am  sitting  in  the  open  air  at  a  little  table  under  the  trees. 
There  are  two  things  I  want  to  tell  about,  and  from  each  of  them 
I  am  sure  that  both  you  and  I  can  learn  some  useful  lessons.  We 
are  wakened  on  Sunday  morning  by  the  sound  of  the  church-bell. 
Ten  o'clock  finds  us  inside  the  German  Reformed  Church.  It  is 
an  old  building,  very  much  like  an  old  New  England  meeting- 
house, only  built  of  stone  with  thick  walls,  and  a  wooden  vaulted 
roof  white-washed,  or  perhaps  roughly  painted  within.  The  v/in- 
dows  are  tall  and  narrow,  with  a  round  top ;  there  are  four  on  each 
side,  two  behind  the  pulpit  and  one  on  each  side.  All  have  plain 
glass  and  a  white  curtain  to  moderate  the  glare  of  the  sun.  The 
pulpit  is  on  one  side,  and  high  up.  It  is  just  big  enough  to  hold 
one  man,  and  it  has  a  sort  of  extinguisher  on  top.  A  staircase 
leads  up  to  the  pulpit,  but  it  is  hidden  by  a  wooden  screen  extend- 


St.  Cloud  Church  113 

ing  across  that  side  of  the  church.  Under  the  pulpit  hangs  the 
only  decoration  in  the  church,  an  engraving  of  the  great  German 
reformer,  Luther.  On  a  platform,  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  stands 
the  communion  table,  made  of  dark  stone  or  marble,  and  solid  to 
the  floor.  This  platform  (on  which  the  table  stands)  is  raised 
three  steps  above  the  floor  of  the  church.  It  extends  across  the 
side  of  the  church.  On  each  end,  there  are  benches  on  which  sit 
the  children— the  little  boys  at  one  end  and  the  little  girls  at  the 
other. 

"I  have  no  doubt  this  building  will  be  very  familiar  and  very 
dear  to  some  of  your  fathers  and  mothers,  who  will  remember  it 
as  the  old  home  church  in  the  old  home  country. 

"I  sat  in  one  of  the  pews  with  my  family,  or  rather  I  hung  upon 
a  narrow  wooden  shelf  called  a  seat — a  plain,  unpainted  board. 
It  had  a  back,  however,  which  the  children's  benches  did  not  have. 
I  looked  around  and  found  in  the  other  pews  a  good  congregation, 
and  all  women !  There  was  no  minister  anywhere.  Presently  the 
organ  began.  It  was  played  beautifully  and  devoutly,  and  we 
sat  for  full  five  minutes.  Then  a  little  door  in  the  screen  behind 
the  pulpit  opened,  and  the  minister  appeared  with  his  book  in 
his  hand,  and  walked  to  the  communion  table.  The  children  in- 
stantly rose  to  greet  him.  All  began  to  sing  a  hymn,  and  then 
everybody  rose,  and  then  I  saw  that  all  of  the  men  were  upstairs 
in  the  gallery.  Men  upstairs;  women  down-stairs;  children  on 
each  side  of  the  pulpit;  ofl&cers  of  the  church  on  a  bench  by  them- 
selves at  one  side.  The  minister  wore  a  black  gown,  like  Mr. 
Whitaker's.  He  wore  a  peculiar  white  collar  or  bands,  such  as 
my  grandfather  used  to  wear  when  he  was  pastor  in  the  old  church 
in  Troy,  New  York,  and  when  he  preached  once  in  Orange  in  the 
old  First  Church,  which  stood  in  the  middle  of  Main  street,  oppo- 
site Mr.  Lindsley's  store. 

"After  the  opening  part  of  the  service  was  over,  the  minister 


114  St.  Cloud  Church 

retired  behind  the  screen,  and  while  we  were  singing  a  beautiful 
German  hymn  (everybody  singing  heartily) ,  the  minister  climbed 
up  the  pulpit  stairs  and  stood  in  the  queer  little  pulpit  with  his 
Bible  in  his  hands.  After  reading  the  text  in  the  Epistle  of  James, 
he  preached  a  simple,  earnest  sermon  lasting  about  an  hour.  Then 
after  another  hymn  he  came  down  from  the  pulpit,  repeated  the 
Lord's  prayer  and  dismissed  the  congregation.  Just  as  he  began 
the  Lord's  prayer,  the  sexton  tolled  the  church  bell  and  continued 
until  the  prayer  had  ended — a  beautiful  notice  (as  it  seemed  to 
me)  to  all  passers  in  the  street  and  to  the  sick  in  their  homes,  of 
the  time  of  this  particular  act  of  worship. 

"Now,  my  dear  children,  why  have  I  told  you  this  long  story, 
at  some  parts  of  which  you  may  feel  inclined  to  laugh?  For  sev- 
eral reasons,  but  mainly  for  two. 

"First,  to  tell  you  of  the  oneness  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  where- 
ever  it  is  simply  and  earnestly  presented. 

"Look  around  at  your  own  church-home,  our  beautiful  build- 
ing, doubly  beautiful  as  it  will  be  this  Children's  Sunday  with 
the  flowers  which  our  Heavenly  Father  has  made.  You  see  about 
you  everything  to  attract  the  eye  and  gratify  the  taste.  Instead  of 
being  bare  and  nude,  and  with  uncomfortable  seats,  see  what  you 
have  in  your  house  of  God — beauty,  comfort,  grace,  everything  to 
make  you  happy  and  reverential  and  good  as  far  as  outward  things 
can.  How  you  would  turn  up  your  noses  if  we  were  to  ask  you 
to  sit  on  such  seats  as  are  used  here!  But,  my  dear  children,  the 
outside  is  nothing  except  as  we  use  it  to  bring  us  nearer  to  God. 
When  the  good  minister  here  read  out  of  his  Bible,  in  the  queer- 
sounding  accent,  and  with  words  of  a  foreign  language,  to  people 
sitting  in  these  plain  pews,  some  women  with  bonnets  and  some 
without;  and  when  he  preached  out  of  that  Bible,  it  was  no  longer 
his  Bible  but  it  was  also  ours.  It  was  God's  word,  and  the  min- 
ister's simple  plea  was  that  we  should  receive  God's  word  in  our 


St.  Cloud  Church  115 

hearts,  love  it,  feed  upon  it,  be  hearers  of  it  not  only  but  doers  of 
it  also — and  so,  dear  children,  God's  word  is  one  and  the  same 
the  world  over,  whether  presented  to  us  in  English,  French  or  Ger- 
man, or  any  other  language  under  the  sun,  and  it  is  my  earnest 
prayer  for  you  all  that  God's  word  may  dwell  richly  in  you  at  all 
times — that  you  may  study  it  more  and  more;  for  I  am  sure  of 
this,  that  the  nearer  you  and  I  can  pattern  our  daily  lives  after  the 
example  of  our  Lord  and  Master,  the  happier  and  more  contented 
are  we  sure  to  be  in  this  life — and  in  addition  we  have  the  promise 
of  the  life  hereafter. 

"In  the  second  place,  there  were  many  lessons  which  I  carried 
away  from  this  simple  morning  service.  For  example,  the  audi- 
ence and  especially  the  children  were  reverential  and  devout  in 
their  manners  in  the  house  of  God.  When  the  minister  moved 
from  one  place  to  another  in  the  different  parts  of  the  service,  the 
children  instantly  and  quietly  rose  and  remained  standing,  till  he 
had  taken  his  proper  place.  For  another  lesson:  They  all  sang 
well,  and  heartily;  but  best  of  all,  even  the  little  tots,  the  infant 
children,  remained  in  church  and  took  part  in  the  service,  singing 
or  listening  as  the  case  might  be. 

"If  you  only  knew  how  it  grieves  me  to  see  that  as  soon  as 
Sunday  School  is  over  so  many  of  our  children  run  home,  as 
though  they  had  no  part  or  place  in  the  worship  of  God's  house 
with  the  older  people. 

"We  can  learn  many  good  lessons  from  our  good  German 
friends.  They  teach  us  respect  for  our  elders,  reverence  for  God's 
house  (even  though  it  be  little  better  than  a  whitewashed  barn 
outwardly),  and  the  presence  of  the  children  as  an  essential  part 
of  the  congregation  in  the  services  of  God's  house  on  the  holy  day. 

"I  have  read  of  the  great  times  you  have  had  recently  at  the 
Washington  Centennial.  I  sometimes  think  that  we  are  in  great 
danger  of  losing  a  large  part  of  the  blessing  which  our  fathers 


116  St.  Cloud  Church 

gained  for  us  by  forgetting  many  of  their  teachings  and  many  of 
their  practices.  They  were  great  men,  and  God  used  them  to  do 
great  things,  because  they  knew  how  to  obey  as  well  as  to  com- 
mand. They  feared  God,  and  therefore  they  had  no  fear  of  man 
before  their  eyes;  and  because  they  feared  God  they  dared  to  do 
the  right,  and  suffered  all  manner  of  evil  and  discomfort  and 
persecution. 

"We  are  trying  too  often  and  too  much  to  make  everything 
easy  in  our  lives;  but  all  great,  noble  and  true  lives  have  had 
and  must  have  a  cross;  and  my  prayer  for  you,  my  children,  is 
that  you  may  not  fear  to  be  cross-bearers.  In  the  grand  cathedral 
at  Cologne,  on  a  pillar  near  one  of  the  great  doors,  stands  a  beau- 
tiful statue  of  St.  Christopher,  with  his  little  child  upon  his 
shoulder.  I  stopped  over  at  Cologne  especially  to  see  it.  It  has 
such  a  sweet  lesson  to  me,  and  it  has  such  a  touching  story  that  I 
shall  ask  Mr.  Whitaker  to  tell  it  to  you  one  of  these  days.  It  is  too 
long  to  repeat  here,  but  I  should  like  you  to  carry  the  spirit  of  the . 
story  through  your  lives. 

"Now  my  letter  is  so  long  that  I  can  scarcely  touch  upon 
another  subject,  and  yet  I  cannot  bear  to  pass  it  over  altogether. 
I  will  venture  to  add  a  very  interesting  sketch  of  a  soldiers'  ceme- 
tery near  the  Rhine. 

"On  the  hill  above  Coblentz,  between  the  Rhine  and  the  Mosel, 
there  is  a  great  plain.  During  the  Franco-Prussian  war  this  plain 
was  used  as  a  camp  for  soldiers  who  were  prisoners.  During  the 
war  about  10,000  French  soldiers  were  confined  there,  i.  e.,  more 
than  half  the  population  of  Orange.  Many  of  these  prisoners 
were  brought  in  sick  and  wounded,  and  many  died  there.  A  little 
spot  on  the  slope  of  the  hill  was  fenced  off  for  a  cemetery.  A  little, 
very  little  chapel  was  built,  and  as  the  poor  prisoners  died  they 
were  laid  to  rest  by  their  comrades  in  the  little  graveyard,  with 
the  burial  service  like  that  used  at  their  homes.    By  and  by  the 


St.  Cloud  Church  117 

war  ended.  The  living  and  the  well  prisoners  went  home.  But 
the  dead  must  remain  behind,  left  to  the  tender  mercies  of  their 
conquerors?  What  has  happened?  Coblentz  is  a  German  fortress 
and  there  are  always  many  German  soldiers  stationed  there.  That 
little  burying  ground,  ever  since  the  French  left  it,  has  been  most 
carefully  guarded  and  cared  for  by  the  German  soldiers.  Not  a 
weed  is  allowed  to  grow  in  it,  and  so  carefully  is  it  tended  that  if 
the  soldier  of  the  day  who  looks  after  it  allows  a  weed  to  grow, 
or  in  any  way  neglects  his  work,  he  is  locked  up  in  the  guard- 
house for  several  days.  A  monument  was  built,  and  on  this 
monument,  as  well  as  at  the  head  of  each  grave,  is  written  the 
name,  age,  and  all  that  is  known  of  each  poor  Frenchman  buried 
there.  In  all  this  most  carefully  kept  land  (of  Germany)  I  have 
seen  no  more  beautifully  and  carefully  kept  spot  than  this  burial 
ground  of  French  prisoners. 

"Dear  children,  remember  who  it  was  that  said,  'When  thine 
enemy  hunger,  feed  him;  if  he  be  thirsty,  give  him  drink;'  and  be 
sure  in  all  your  lives  to  follow  the  spirit  of  these  words.  If  you 
want  to  turn  an  enemy  into  a  friend,  be  kind  to  him  for  Christ's 
sake.    Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil  with  good. 

"And  now,  good-bye.  May  God  bless  you  all,  and  bring  us 
all  together  for  our  next  Children's  Sunday. 

"Your  affectionate  superintendent, 

"John  Crosby  Brown." 


118  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

The  proposed  Sunday  School  Building  was  not  only  a  most 
fitting  memorial  to  Mr.  Brown;  it  was  an  imperative  need  of  the 
church.  In  the  annual  report  for  1905  we  read:  "Our  Sunday 
School  shows  greater  growth  than  any  other  part  of  the  church 
activity.  THE  iNEED  OF  A  PROPER  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ROOM 
WAS  NEVER  SO  PRESSING  AS  TODAY." 

On  the  12th  of  June  of  the  following  year  (1910),  the  corner- 
stone of  the  memorial  building  was  laid  at  the  close  of  the  Sunday 
service,  as  a  part  of  the  Children's  Day  exercises.  Mr.  Newell 
presided.  Three  of  Mr.  Brown's  grandchildren  laid  this  stone, 
under  which,  in  a  copper  box,  were  the  following  articles :  A  New 
Testament  used  for  several  years  by  Mr.  Brown,  a  program  of 
the  exercises,  a  list  of  the  officers  and  members  of  the  church,  the 
membership  roll  of  the  teachers,  officers,  and  pupils  of  the  Sunday 
School,  and  a  copy  of  the  address  delivered  by  Mr.  Brown  at  the 
laying  of  the  cornerstone  of  the  new  building  at  Union  Theological 
Seminary. 

The  dedication  took  place  on  Sunday  morning,  November  31, 
1910.  An  advance  notice  in  a  New  York  periodical  gives  the 
following  details: 

"A  beautiful  Sunday  School  building  is  to  be  added  to  the 
St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church  on  Orange  Mountain,  which  will 
carry  over  the  entrance  door  on  the  interior  this  inscription : 

"This  building  in  loving  memory 

of 

John  Crosby  Brown, 

Born  May  22nd,  1838.     Died  June  25th,  1909. 

Was  erected  by  his  children. 


St.  Cloud  Church  119 

"This  Sunday  School  is  one  of  the  most  modern  structures  of 
its  kind  to  be  found  in  the  Oranges.  It  is  shingled  on  the  exterior, 
while  the  interior  finish  is  of  finely  grained  wood.  There  is  a 
main  schoolroom,  a  kindergarten  room  and  a  primary  department, 
besides  three  classrooms  for  the  older  students.  For  each  class 
there  will  be  a  semi-circle  of  chairs,  with  a  large  table  for  use  in 
the  map  drawing,  which  is  one  of  the  features  of  the  graded 
system  used  in  the  school.    There  is  also  an  office  for  the  secretary. 

"Mr.  Brown  was  for  thirty-three  years  the  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath  School  of  the  church,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
founders,  and  into  which  he  built  many  years  of  his  life.  In  com- 
parison with  the  larger  objects  which  occupied  his  attention,  this 
little  Sunday  School  was  an  inconspicuous  thing,  but  he  believed 
that  valuable  manhood  and  womanhood  were  outgrowths  of  truth 
implanted  in  childhood,  and  he  gave  a  touching  patience  and 
persistence  to  the  planting.  Every  child  was  to  him  new  territory 
compact  of  lasting  possibilities  and  a  being  belonging  primarily 
to  God's  world,  who  must  inevitably  act  his  part  in  it.  He  wished, 
therefore,  that  all  children  should  grow  up  in  an  atmosphere  of 
unconscious  preparation,  with  a  foreknowledge  of  the  importance 
of  life  and  its  responsibilities. 

"The  Sunday  School  building  is  to  be  enriched  and  hallowed 
by  a  rare  and  important  work  of  religious  art.  This  is  a  large 
golden  bronze  bas-relief  by  the  sculptor,  Chester  A.  Beach,  which 
is  to  be  placed  in  the  space  over  the  reading  desk.  The  subject 
is  a  celestial  figure  holding  the  hands  of  two  earthly  children, 
whose  differing  characteristics  bridge  the  interval  between  the 
unconscious  joy  of  childhood  and  the  period  when  it  first  hears  the 
call  of  the  purely  spiritual.  It  is,  as  all  great  art  must  be,  an  inter- 
pretation of  things  seen,  but  not  fully  understood  in  their  divine 
relations.  The  heavenly  beauty  of  the  central  figure  is  the  fixed 
shadow  of  the  faith,  hope  and  charity,  which  spend  for  others, 


120  St.  Cloud  Church 

and  are  the  living  motives  of  all  religious  teaching,  while  the 
two  sculptured  children  represent  the  objects  of  effort  thus 
inspired.  It  is  a  worthy  memorial  not  only  of  self-denying  effort, 
but  of  the  enthusiasm  which  makes  labor  effective,  and  which 
belongs  alone  to  the  man  who  sees  beyond  the  veil,  who  has  the 
gifts  of  the  prophet  and  the  seer. 

"It  is  easy  to  understand  the  relation  between  this  tender  and 
reverent  work  of  art  and  Mr.  Brown's  altruistic  activities.  It  is 
their  heavenward  aspect,  the  angelhood  which  underlies  all  con- 
secration of  human  gifts  to  the  higher  needs  of  the  world.  Such 
suggestions  are  rare  in  the  able  and  varied  art  of  today,  which  is 
far  more  concerned  with  material  than  with  spiritual  possibilities; 
but  it  is  most  fitting  that  such  an  exquisite  memorial  should  spring 
from  Mr.  Brown's  special  love  for  the  young,  to  bless  for  genera- 
tions the  children  of  St.  Cloud. 

"Mr.  Brown's  character  included  the  primitive  virtues  taught 
by  Christ,  and  his  large  business  relations  with  the  world  and  his 
financial  importance  were  characterized  and  ennobled  by  them. 
All  uplifting  measures  found  in  him  a  ready  sympathy,  but  he 
was  accustomed  to  apply  also  to  such  plans  a  discriminating 
power  or  instinct  which  was  able  to  make  them  practically 
effective.  The  radiation  of  this  largeness  of  experience  gave 
breadth  also  to  his  smaller  and  more  personal  efforts.  On  all 
sides  of  life,  in  his  family,  in  his  philanthropies,  in  his  friend- 
ships, and  in  his  church  work,  he  illustrated  the  spirit  of  the  text 
now  appropriately  inscribed  upon  the  bas-relief  erected  in  his 
memory:  'Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  the  least  of  these, 
my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me.' 

"Such  men  as  Mr.  Brown  make  us  feel  the  worth  of  every  indi- 
vidual. They  prize  the  young  lives  which  are  to  reach  forward 
into  the  future  and  perpetuate  under  new  and  ever-changing  forms 


St.  Cloud  Church  121 

the  highest  aspirations  and  influences  of  the  past.  To  touch  and 
mould  the  thoughts  of  the  children  of  our  own  day  is  to  serve  the 
future  age;  and  such  service  nobly  performed  lends  fresh  and 
beautiful  significance  to  the  words  placed  upon  his  memorial  tab- 
let in  the  St.  Cloud  Church :  'He  that  believeth  in  me  shall  never 
die!'" 

The  following  extract,  published  after  the  occasion,  gives  us  a 
fuller  account: 

"Well-known  characteristics  of  the  life  of  John  Crosby  Brown, 
who  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church, 
were  recalled  at  the  services  of  the  dedication  in  the  new  Sunday 
School  building,  which  was  presented  to  the  church  by  his  chil- 
dren. The  services  were  held  in  the  new  building  yesterday 
morning  at  11  o'clock.  The  members  of  the  Sunday  School 
marched  in  a  body  from  the  church  into  the  new  edifice,  singing 
'Onward,  Christian  Soldiers.'  They  occupied  seats  reserved  for 
them  in  the  front,  and  the  members  of  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion filled  the  room.  Among  those  present  were  the  members  of 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  who  united  in  this  service  with 
the  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

"Mr.  Newell  was  in  charge  of  the  dedication  service.  After 
an  address  by  Dr.  Moore,  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Brown,  Dr.  William 
Adams  Brown  made  the  presentation,  during  which  the  bas-relief 
and  the  tablet  over  the  door  were  unveiled.  The  latter  was 
unveiled  by  two  of  Mr.  Brown's  grandsons  who  bear  his  name, 
John  Crosby  Brown  2nd,  son  of  Dr.  William  Adams  Brown,  and 
John  Crosby  Brown  Moore,  son  of  Dr.  Edward  Caldwell  Moore,  of 
Cambridge^  Mass. 

"Dr.  Brown  also  presented  a  large  pulpit  Bible  to  Mr.  Timms, 
who  represented  the  session  of  the  church;  a  smaller  Bible  to  Mr. 
Winthrop  D.  Smith,  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School;  a 
record  book  to  Mr.  Elmer  Condit,  secretary  of  the  Sunday  School, 


122  St.  Cloud  Church 

and  the  keys  of  the  building  to  Mr.  Alfred  R.  Kimball,  president 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

"Two  beautiful  windows,  one  above  the  platform  and  the  other 
at  the  opposite  end  of  the  building,  were  taken  from  the  old  Adams 
Chapel  at  Union  Seminary,  which  was  erected  by  Mrs.  Brown 
in  memory  of  her  father,  Dr.  William  Adams.  A  handsome  brass 
vase,  the  work  of  a  laborer  in  the  east  side  of  New  York,  was  the 
gift  of  Miss  Wald,  of  the  Nurses'  Settlement,  New  York  City.  It 
was  Mr.  Brown's  custom  to  entertain  every  week  parties  of  mothers 
and  children  and  convalescents  from  the  city  at  his  home  on  the 
mountainside. 

"Mr.  Newell  made  the  prayer  of  dedication,  after  which  the 
hymn  of  dedication,  'Beatitude,'  was  sung  by  the  congregation. 
The  closing  prayer  and  benediction  were  pronounced  by  the  Rev. 
W.  D.  P.  Bliss,  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents." 

The  Scripture  readings  and  addresses  are  given  here  in  full: 

Dedication  of  the  John  Crosby  Brown  Memorial  Sunday 

School  Building  at  St.  Cloud,  Orange,  N.  J., 

November  13,  1910. 

Psalm  127. 

Except  the  Lord  build  the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  that  build 
it:  except  the  Lord  keep  the  city,  the  watchman  waketh  but  in  vain. 

It  is  vain  for  you  to  rise  up  early,  to  sit  up  late,  to  eat  the 
bread  of  sorrows:  for  so  He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep. 

Lo,  children  are  an  heritage  of  the  Lord:  and  the  fruit  of  the 
womb  is  His  reward. 

As  arrows  are  in  the  hand  of  a  mighty  man,  so  are  children 
of  the  youth. 

Happy  is  the  man  that  hath  his  quiver  full  of  them :  they  shall 
not  be  ashamed,  but  they  shall  speak  with  the  enemies  in  the  gate. 


St.  Cloud  Church  123 

The  Wisdom  of  Solomon,  Chapter  4. 

1.  For  in  the  memory  of  virtue  is  immortality: 

Because  it  is  recognized  both  before  God  and  before  men. 

2.  When  it  is  present,  men  imitate  it; 
And  long  after  it  when  it  is  departed : 

And  throughout  all  time  it  marcheth  crowned  in  triumph, 
Victorious  in  the  strife  for  the  prizes  that  are  undefiled. 

7.  But  a  righteous  man,  though  he  die  before  his  time,  shall  be 
at  rest. 

8.  (For  honorable  old  age  is  not  that  which  standeth  in  length 
of  time. 

Nor  is  its  measure  given  by  number  of  years: 

9.  But  understanding  is  gray  hairs  unto  men, 
And  an  unspotted  life  is  ripe  old  age.) 

10.  Being  made  perfect  in  a  little  while,  he  fulfilled  long  years; 

14.  For  his  soul  was  pleasing  unto  the  Lord: 

Chapter  5. 

9.  Those  things  all  passed  away  as  a  shadow, 
And  as  a  message  that  runneth  by: 

10.  As  a  ship  passing  through  the  billowy  water. 
Whereof,  when  it  is  gone  by,  there  is  no  trace  to  be  found. 
Neither  pathway  of  its  keel  in  the  billows: 

11.  Or  as  when  a  bird  flieth  through  the  air, 
No  token  of  her  passage  is  found, 

But  the  light  wind,  lashed  with  the  stroke  of  her  pinions. 


124  St.  Cloud  Church 

And  rent  asunder  with  the  violent  rush  of  the  moving  wings, 

is  passed  through, 

And  afterwards  no  sign  of  her  coming  is  found  therein: 

12.  Or  as  when  an  arrow  is  shot  at  a  mark. 

The  air  disparted  closeth  up  again  immediately. 
So  that  men  know  not  where  it  passed  through: 

13.  So  we  also,  as  soon  as  we  were  born,  ceased  to  be; 
And  of  virtue  we  had  no  sign  to  show, 

15.  But  the  righteous  live  forever. 
And  in  the  Lord  is  their  reward. 

And  the  care  for  them  with  the  Most  High. 

16.  Therefore  shall  they  receive  the  crown  of  royal  dignity 
And  the  diadem  of  beauty  from  the  Lord's  hand ; 
Because  with  His  right  hand  shall  He  cover  them. 
And  with  His  arm  shall  He  shield  them. 

Address  by  Rev.  Edward  Caldwell  Moore. 

The  Wisdom  of  Solomon,  Chapter  4,  Verse  2,  ff. 

"This  house  is  a  memorial  of  one  who  for  a  generation  went 
in  and  out  of  this  community,  loving  it  and  loved  by  it.  As  a 
young  man  he  took  up  his  summer  residence  here.  He  identified 
himself  with  all  its  interests,  but  particularly  with  its  religious 
interests.  Among  these  forests  and  hills,  in  his  garden  and  with 
his  flowers,  he  found  recreation  through  years  of  heavy  care  and 
responsibility.  Here  as  his  strength  declined  and  the  pressure 
of  the  city  increased  for  him,  as  it  has  done  for  all  of  late,  he 
found  rest.  From  here  in  the  beauty  of  a  June  day,  such  as  he 
loved,  he  entered  into  God's  rest. 


St.  Cloud  Church  125 

"His  children  make  this  memorial  recalling  their  own  child- 
hood's associations  with  this  church  and  Sunday  School.  They 
are  reminded  that  their  father  was  for  many  years  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  school.  They  desire  that  the  children  of  this  place 
shall  recall  one  who  loved  children  and  who,  in  all  the  strength 
of  his  manhood,  reminded  us  of  Christ's  word  about  'the  pure  in 
heart  who  see  God.' 

"We  are  ourselves  conscious  how  new  cares  absorb  us  and 
aware  how  new  men  come  into  a  community  and  children  are  born 
into  it  to  whom  a  man,  who  was  once  its  stay,  may  be  no  more  than 
a  name. 

"Memorials  are  fitting,  but  none  so  fitting  as  those  in  which 
a  man's  own  beloved  work  and  influence  is  perpetuated,  in  which 
in  some  true  sense  his  life  of  usefulness  is  continued.  As  he  in 
thought  reached  forward,  looking  to  the  welfare  of  this  com- 
munity, so  we  in  memory  reach  back  to  him.  So  the  generations 
are  bound  together.  Other  men  labored  and  we  are  entering 
into  their  labors. 

"We  sit  here  today  by  chance  in  the  middle  one  of  three  build- 
ings which  constitute  the  plan  of  this  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian 
Church  and  as  well  the  provision  in  some  ways  for  the  social  life 
and  pleasure  of  the  village.  Each  of  these  buildings  is  typical  of 
an  aspect  of  religion  as  it  existed  in  the  fundamental  conviction 
of  Mr.  Brown.  In  the  few  minutes  in  which  I  ought  to  speak  to 
you  I  desire  to  set  forth  these  aspects  of  religion  and  to  renew, 
through  his  sincere  and  devoted  conviction,  the  clearness  and 
power  of  our  own. 

"The  building  on  my  left  hand,  which  we  see  through  these 
windows,  is  the  church,  itself  in  no  small  measure  a  memorial  of 
a  father  and  father-in-law,  who  stood  in  somewhat  the  same  rela- 
tion to  his  own  religious  life  as  that  in  which  he  stands  today  to 
ours.    Mr.  Brown  believed  in  a  church  with  the  whole  intensity  of 


126  St.  Cloud  Church 

his  nature.  He  did  not  believe  in  it  as  an  immobile,  unchanging 
institution,  as  many  do.  Quite  the  contrary.  He  believed  in  it 
as  the  necessary  organization  of  a  life  principle,  which  is  itself 
unchangeable,  but  whose  organization  and  adaptation  must  change 
from  generation  to  generation  and  from  age  to  age. 

"In  its  statement  of  faith,  in  its  formula  of  worship,  in  its 
scheme  of  government,  in  its  adjustment  to  life  and  society,  he 
believed  that  it  was  subject  to  those  changes  to  which  all  things 
human,  which  live,  are  subject.  On  its  one  side  the  church  is  a 
human  institution  and  partakes  of  all  of  the  qualities  of  human 
institutions.  It  is  divine  only  in  the  sense  that  it  represents  the 
divine  principle  of  life  which,  exactly  because  it  is  divine  and 
living,  has  power  of  adjustment  and  new  expression  to  meet  the 
changing  needs  of  men.  Many  men  in  our  day  are  alienated  from 
the  church.  None  knew  this  better  than  did  Mr.  Brown,  and  he 
realized  that,  in  some  measure  at  least,  men  are  alienated  from 
the  church  exactly  because  the  ardent  adherents  of  the  church 
have  refused  to  rcognize  the  principle  of  which  we  have  just 
spoken.  They  have  asserted  that  the  church  and  all  of  its  adapta- 
tions were  unchanging,  that  is,  dead.  And  the  generation  has 
drawn  nigh  to  taking  them  at  their  word.  But  apprehended  as  a 
living  thing,  he  believed  sincerely  and  entirely  in  the  church. 
Profoundly  as  religion  was  to  him  a  personal  matter,  he  yet  real- 
ized that  personal  convictions  are  perpetuated  in  the  world  and 
they  achieve  the  work  of  the  world  through  combinations  of  men 
in  institutions. 

"He  believed  in  institutional  religion.  The  failure  and  mis- 
takes, to  which  the  church  like  all  other  human  institutions  is 
particularly  liable  and  of  which  it  has  been  actually  guilty,  did 
not  blind  him  to  the  great  spiritual  ideal  for  which  it  stands,  and 
with  eminent  practical  sense  he  devoted  himself  to  that  ideal. 
This  first. 


St.  Cloud  Church  127 

"But  secondly.  The  building  on  my  right,  which  we  see 
through  the  windows,  is  the  building  of  the  men's  club,  dedicated 
only  a  few  days  ago,  ow^ned  and  managed  by  a  social  organiza- 
tion of  the  community  in  which  the  members  of  the  church  merely 
have  a  part.  In  the  erection  also  of  this,  however,  Mr.  Brown's 
widow  and  others  of  his  family  have  gladly  had  a  share.  It  stands 
for  adaptations  of  religion  to  life  and  permeations  of  life  with 
religion,  which  were  not  much  in  the  minds  of  Christians  in  Mr. 
Brown's  own  youth.  They  are  sometimes  regarded  as  the  dis- 
tinctly modern  aspects  of  Christianity,  parts  of  its  adjustment  to 
the  life  of  the  present  world  of  which  I  spoke  above.  Through 
such  a  club  house  as  this,  with  its  manifold  activities,  its  uncon- 
ventional relations  and  its  partly  secular  purposes,  as  the  men  of 
a  former  generation  might  have  described  those  purposes,  we 
attribute  to  the  fact  that  the  old  distinction  between  sacred  and 
secular,  between  religious  and  non-religious,  has  very  largely  dis- 
appeared. The  whole  life  of  man  is  sacred,  all  its  relations  are 
or  should  be  divine,  and  religion  exists  to  furnish  that  element 
whereby  they  are  practically  to  be  made  divine.  Men  lived  in  the 
old  days  indeed  in  an  intense  conviction  concerning  the  other 
world,  surely  more  intense  conviction  to  this  than  we  do.  In  their 
zeal  as  to  the  other  world  they  ran  some  risk  that  religion  would 
have,  or  at  all  events  appear  to  have,  but  slight  connection  with 
this  world.  They  talked  much  of  a  future  life.  They  ran  some 
risk  of  neglecting  elements  of  this  life  which  yet,  if  neglected, 
revenged  themselves  upon  the  very  quality  of  religion  itself.  We 
believe  in  immortality,  but  we  do  not  talk  much  of  a  future  life  or 
of  another  world.  We  believe  in  making  this  life  other  than  it  is 
and  incarnating  now  the  principle  of  a  blessed  future  for  which  we 
hope.  If  men  are  not  now  immortal  through  the  indwelling  life 
of  Christ,  it  is  not  clear  to  us  how  they  are  ever  going  to  be,  and 
into  the  range  of  religion,  into  the  area  of  the  service  of  God  and 


128  St.  Cloud  Church 

Christ,  into  the  scope  of  the  spiritual  all  of  man's  life  is  thus  taken 
up,  hallowed  and  glorified.  These  convictions  also  were  pro- 
foundly held  by  the  man  of  whom  we  speak,  and  with  wisdom  and 
generosity  unbounded  he  furthered  the  humane,  the  charitable,  the 
philanthropic,  the  social  purpose  in  our  time,  and  this  not  less  but 
all  the  more  because  they  were  to  him  the  aspect  of  the  pure 
religion  and  undefiled  of  which  the  apostle  spoke.  That  house, 
which  we  see,  stands  dedicated  to  those  purposes  and  is  the  organ 
in  this  community  in  those  regards,  and  the  development  of  the 
work  and  the  life  of  this  community,  which  is  therefore  shadowed, 
would  have  had  his  most  sincere  approval  and  his  heartiest 
cooperation.    This  is  in  the  second  place. 

"And  finally.  This  building  in  which  we  are  is  a  Sunday 
School.  The  Sunday  School  also  is  in  some  measure  in  our  time 
discredited.  In  part  here,  too,  the  cause  may  lie  in  its  own  fault, 
in  insufficient  flexibility  of  method,  in  ineff^ective  administration, 
in  the  uncertainty  of  purpose  and  conviction  as  to  method.  But 
in  many  minds  this  phenomenon  is  only  a  part  of  a  very  much 
larger  whole.  Families  and  homes  have  grown  uncertain  as  to 
the  teaching  of  religion  and  they  are,  many  of  them,  in  the 
singularly  illogical  position  of  endeavoring  to  devolve  the  home 
instruction  of  children  in  religion  upon  the  Sunday  School  and 
at  the  same  time  alleging  that  the  schools  are  inadequate  for  this 
purpose.  Men  and  women,  not  a  few  of  whom  we  know,  declare 
themselves  so  convinced  of  the  intimate  personal  character  of 
religion,  of  the  nugatoriness  of  religion  unless  it  be  personal,  that 
they  allege  that  it  is  impossible  or  even  undesirable  that  religion 
should  be  taught,  and  this  appears  all  the  more  to  be  the  case  in 
view  of  those  changes  in  statement  of  religion,  to  which  I  referred 
above.  Mr.  Brown  believed  in  the  teaching  of  religion.  He 
believed  in  teaching  it  to  his  own  children  in  his  own  home. 

"He  believed  in  teaching  it  to  other  people's  children  in  the 


St.  Cloud  Church  129 

Sunday  School.  He  believed  in  teaching  it  in  any  school,  where 
just  consideration  of  the  liberty  of  others  made  it  feasible.  I 
repeat,  he  believed  in  the  teaching  of  religion.  He  would  have 
thought  it  an  unpardonable  dereliction  had  others  not  been  placed 
under  the  same  inestimable  debt  in  turn  to  him.  Not  at  all,  you 
will  see  from  what  I  have  said  above  that  he  believed  it  neces- 
sary that  those  whom  he  taught  should  believe  religion  in  the 
terms  in  which  he  taught  it.  Let  me  make  my  meaning  clear.  He 
fully  expected  that  his  own  children  and  other  people's  children 
would  translate  religion  into  their  own  terms.  It  could  not  be 
their  religion,  intimate,  personal,  genuine,  potent,  upon  any  other 
terms.  But  while  acknowledging  that  to  the  full,  he  did  not  see 
how  religion  was  to  be  transmitted  from  one  generation  to  another 
save  in  this  affectionate  brooding  of  the  life  of  one  age  over  the 
vital  impulses  of  the  next,  which  we  do  as  a  matter  of  fact  in  all 
other  relations  and  seem  only  to  shrink  from  in  this.  A  college 
teaches  science  with  the  utmost  possible  accuracy  and  definiteness, 
not  at  all  because  it  believes  that  the  students  who  thus  learn  will 
have  no  occasion,  it  may  be  only  a  few  years  hence,  to  discard 
multitudes  of  so-called  facts  and  schemes  of  well-intentioned  inter- 
pretation which  we  now  perpetuate. 

"We  profoundly  hope  that  the  advance  of  science  will  be  such 
that  they  will  have  to  do  this  discarding  and  we  believe  that  our 
pupils  will  so  live  the  life  of  the  mind  that  they  will  all  freely  dis- 
card that  which  has  become  obsolete.  But  if  we  should  say  that 
because  we  realize  that  the  appropriation  of  learning  is  a  personal 
matter  and  that  the  progress  of  science  will  change  much,  that, 
therefore,  we  ought  to  make  it  a  matter  of  conscience  to  teach 
nothing,  you  would  say  that  we  committed  the  greatest  of  absurdi- 
ties. Now,  that  is  just  exactly  what  I  think  we  do  commit  in  the 
whole  area  of  religion  when  we  say  in  this  ridiculous  fashion  that 
religion  cannot  be  taught  or  when  we  refuse  our  own  responsi- 


130  St.  Cloud  Church 

bility  in  teaching  it.  We  may  be  lazy,  uncertain  of  our  minds, 
we  may  yield  in  cowardly  fashion  to  practical  difficulties  and  then 
barricade  ourselves  behind  this  august  assertion  that  religion  can- 
not be  taught,  but  at  the  bottom  of  our  hearts  that  is  disingenuous, 
it  is  cowardly.  It  takes  courage  to  teach  religion.  I  am  only 
saying  that  Mr.  Brown  had  that  courage  and  only  praying  that  we 
may  imitate  him  in  that  courage. 

"As  I  think  of  the  religious  life  of  our  times,  it  seems  to  me 
that  there  are  few  more  fundamental  convictions  than  these  three, 
to  which  I  have  alluded  as  having  been  a  part  of  the  deepest  life 
of  the  man  whom  we  honor,  and  I  think  it  highly  suggestive  that 
these  three  buildings  stand  here,  each  one  of  them  representative 
of  one  of  these  three  convictions,  in  their  unity,  their  harmony, 
their  mutual  adjustment  and  necessity  to  one  another,  and  their 
importance  to  the  religious  life  of  this  community  and  of  the 
world.  God  grant  us  all  faithfulness  to  our  convictions  in  some 
such  measure  as  that  faith  and  faithfulness  were  manifest  in  him 
whose  memorial  stands  before  us  here  today." 

Address  by  Rev.  William  Adams  Brown. 

"My  dear  friends  and  neighbors  of  St.  Cloud: 

"The  part  that  is  assigned  to  me  in  the  services  of  today  is  a 
very  simple  and  a  very  pleasant  one.  It  is  my  duty,  on  behalf 
of  the  givers  of  this  building,  to  turn  it  over  formally  to  those  who 
will  make  use  of  it.  It  is  appropriate  that  a  word  should  be  said 
of  the  causes  that  lie  back  of  this  gift  and  of  the  spirit  in  which 
it  is  given. 

"This  Sunday  School  building  is  no  new  idea.  It  began  as  a 
dream  in  the  mind  of  our  pastor  a  number  of  years  ago  as  he 
studied  the  different  phases  of  our  life  here  and  looked  forward 
to  the  needs  of  the  future.    The  reasons  which  made  such  a  build- 


St.  Cloud  Church  131 

ing  seem  desirable  were  the  following:  First  of  all,  it  appeared 
necessary  in  order  properly  to  accommodate  our  Sunday  School 
under  the  new  conditions  of  Sunday  School  work.  Under  former 
conditions  it  was  not  possible  to  bring  our  Sunday  School  together 
in  one  place.  Part  of  the  school  met  in  the  chapel,  part  of  it,  the 
kindergarten,  in  the  Men's  Club.  Part  was  housed  in  the  pastor's 
study.  Moreover,  the  closing  exercises  were  interrupted  by  people 
coming  into  the  church  for  morning  worship  and  there  was  result- 
ant confusion  and  disorder.  These  facts  led  Mr.  Newell,  our  pas- 
tor, to  hope  that  we  might  some  day  be  able  as  a  community  to 
provide  a  Sunday  School  building  independent  of  the  church,  yet 
an  integral  part  of  its  plant. 

"Mr.  Newell  talked  this  plan  over  more  than  once  with  Mr. 
Brown  and  received  his  hearty  approval  and  sympathy,  so  that 
when  that  life,  so  dear,  I  may  truly  say,  to  all  of  us,  was  cut 
short,  it  seemed  a  natural  thing  that  this  plan,  which  had  been  in 
his  thought  and  of  which  we  know  he  approved,  should  be  carried 
to  completion.  This  is  the  genesis  of  the  Sunday  School  building, 
the  gift  of  Mr.  Brown's  children  to  the  school  of  which  for  so  many 
years  he  was  the  superintendent,  and  into  which  he  built  his 
thoughts,  his  time  and  his  love. 

"I  am  going  to  ask  two  of  Mr.  John  Crosby  Brown's  grand- 
sons, who  bear  his  name,  to  unveil  a  tablet  which  has  been  put 
over  the  door. 

"I  do  not  need  to  describe  the  nature  of  the  building,  because 
you  can  see  it  for  yourselves.  I  want  to  call  your  attention  in  a 
single  word  to  the  uses  of  the  different  rooms.  On  the  right  hand 
you  see  a  large  room  which  can  accommodate  our  infant  class,  and 
adjoining  it  a  room  for  the  kindergarten.  On  the  left  hand  side 
are  other  rooms,  which  can  be  used  for  the  Bible  class  and  for 
the  older  classes,  and  the  centre  is  left  free  so  that  the  teachers  can 
meet  their  classes,  not  in  the  inconvenient  pews  which  they  were 


132  St.  Cloud  Church 

obliged  to  use  in  the  old  building,  but  seated  in  circles  about 
tables,  as  is  the  custom  in  every  well  appointed  Sunday  School 
today.  We  have  a  comfortable  room  at  the  left  for  the  officers  of 
the  school,  and  overhead  a  study  where  Mr.  Newell  can  seek  that 
retirement  which  a  pastor  so  often  greatly  desires  and  so  often 
finds  it  mighty  hard  to  get.  You  will  understand,  therefore,  that 
these  stairs  lead  up  to  his  private  domain,  and  when  the  door  is 
shut  you  must  wait  patiently  until  he  comes  out.  These  two  win- 
dows which  you  see  over  my  head  and  at  the  opposite  end  of  the 
building  are  the  gift  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  part  of  the  old  Adams  Chapel  which  was 
destroyed  as  a  result  of  the  recent  removal  of  the  Seminary  to 
Morningside  Heights,  and  which  was  so  closely  connected  with 
Mr.  Brown's  life  that  it  seemed  appropriate  that  these  windows, 
which  bring  to  so  many  of  us  associations  of  his  own  personal 
interest  there,  should  be  preserved  here. 

"I  shall  speak  in  a  moment  of  the  bas-relief  at  my  rear,  but 
will  simply  state  here  that  it  is  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Brown  to  this 
building,  she  desiring  to  have  some  share  with  us  in  this  memorial 
gift. 

"May  I  say  a  single  word  as  to  the  wider  purposes  which  we 
have  had  in  mind  in  this  gift?  It  has  been  our  hope  that  in  some 
sense  this  building  might  serve  the  uses  of  the  community  as  a 
whole.  It  was  the  original  plan  that  the  building  on  my  right,  the 
Men's  Club,  and  this  building  should  form  a  single  structure, 
which  could  accommodate  the  demands  of  the  club  and  the  school 
together.  But  for  various  reasons  this  was  found  impracticable. 
And  yet  in  our  thought  and  hope  the  two  buildings  are  in  a  very 
real  sense  one,  that  is,  part  of  one  and  the  same  ideal.  There  will 
be  many  occasions,  as  the  community  grows,  when  we  shall  desire 
all  to  comie  together  to  see  one  another  and  to  exchange  our  views 
in  a  place  which  will  be  convenient  for  that  purpose,  and  we  trust 


St.  Cloud  Church  133 

that  this  room  may  serve  this  purpose  and  be  used  by  all  our 
neighbors  as  a  common  meeting  ground.  Reference  has  been 
made  to  the  church  on  my  left  hand,  but  we  do  not  forget  that 
there  is  another  church  on  my  right,  and  we  sincerely  trust,  Mr. 
Bliss,  that  you  will  feel  that  it  is  our  wish  to  place  this  building 
at  your  disposal  for  any  purpose  in  which  it  may  be  of  service  to 
you.  If,  for  example,  it  should  be  convenient  for  you  to  use  it  as 
a  meeting  place  for  your  own  school,  or  in  any  other  similar  way, 
I  trust  that  you  will  feel  that  it  is  at  your  service,  not  simply  as  a 
matter  of  privilege,  but  as  a  matter  of  right. 

"A  word  or  two  of  acknowledgment  I  must  surely  make. 
First  of  all,  and  on  behalf  of  all  of  us,  to  our  architect,  Mr. 
Delano,  who,  because  of  his  love  for  the  one  whose  memory  we 
commemorate,  has  given  of  his  time,  his  thought  and  his  interest 
to  this  building,  and  to  whose  taste  and  experience  we  owe  the 
success  which  has  been  obtained.  Secondly,  to  Mr.  Olstead,  the 
builder,  and  to  those  who  cooperated  with  him  in  the  work.  How 
well  they  did  it  you  can  all  see  for  yourselves.  In  the  third  place, 
I  am  sure  we  shall  all  wish  to  express  our  appreciation  to  Mr. 
Newell,  to  whom  special  thanks  are  due  as  the  one  in  whose 
thought  this  building  was  born.  In  the  fourth  place,  I  wish  to  say 
a  word  of  appreciation  to  the  children  of  the  school  and  to  its 
teachers  and  officers.  The  Sunday  School  of  St.  Cloud  has  always 
been  one  of  the  most  active  organizations  of  the  church  and  it  is 
in  a  very  literal  sense  true  that  to  your  fidelity  and  efficiency  the 
presence  of  this  building  is  due. 

"There  is  one  other  word  of  acknowledgment  which  I  wish  to 
say.  You  see  the  vase  which  stands  on  the  organ  at  my  right. 
This  is  the  gift  to  us  of  Miss  Wald,  of  the  Nurses'  Settlement.  It 
is  a  reflection  of  the  loving  thought  which  went  out  from  this 
mountain  top  during  Mr.  Brown's  lifetime  to  the  crowded  east 
side  in  which  she  is  interested,  to  which  yiear  after  year  he  sent 


134  St.  Cloud  Church 

flowers  from  his  own  home.  It  seems  very  appropriate,  therefore, 
that  this  vase,  the  work  of  an  east  side  workman,  wrought  out  of 
a  single  piece  of  brass,  should  stand  here  to  hold  the  flowers 
which  from  Sunday  to  Sunday  will  add  dignity  to  our  services. 

"Now  I  will  ask  that  the  bas-relief,  which  has  been  placed  here 
as  a  silent  expression  of  the  ideals  which  we  hope  this  building 
may  ever  perpetuate,  may  be  unveiled  in  order  that  I  may  say  a 
word  about  it  before  we  part. 

[Here  the  bas-relief  was  unveiled.] 

"This  beautiful  bas-relief,  the  work  of  Mr.  Chester  Beach,  one 
of  our  best  known  sculptors,  was,  I  think  I  may  truly  say,  a  labor 
of  love.  It  represents,  as  you  see,  an  angel  gathering  to  her  side 
two  children,  and  that  angel  may  represent  for  us  the  spirit  of 
the  Christian  religion  in  its  love  and  care  for  children.  You  will 
notice,  too,  that  this  angel  looks  very  natural.  As  you  look  at  her 
face  it  might  be  your  own  mother,  and  we  hope  this  may  be  a  type 
of  the  spirit  of  the  teaching  that  will  come  to  you  through  your 
teachers  as  they  learn  the  lessons  of  the  Christ  and  pass  them  on 
to  you.  Now,  if  you  will  look  at  these  children  you  will  see  that 
there  is  a  little  boy  and  a  little  girl.  The  little  girl  is  looking  up 
into  the  face  of  the  angel,  and  she  has  begun  to  understand  what 
the  teaching  means  and  to  respond  to  it.  But  the  little  boy — not, 
I  hope,  because  he  is  a  boy,  but  because  he  is  very  young — has  not 
yet  quite  understood.  You  can  see  he  is  a  little  mischief,  full  of 
roguishness  and  fun,  and  the  fact  that  he  has  nestled  so  close  to 
the  angel's  side  shows  that  we  believe  that  little  children  who  love 
fun  and  play  have  just  as  much  part  in  the  heart  of  Christ  and  just 
as  rightful  a  place  in  His  church  as  the  older  ones  who  have  begun 
to  know  the  serious  side  of  life.  So  I  trust  that  as  you  look  up  to 
this  bas-relief  from  Sunday  to  Sunday  it  may  signify  to  you  the 


^ 


'iMA 


BAS-RELIEF   IN    MEMORIAL   SUNDAY   SCHOOL    BUILDING 


St.  Cloud  Church  135 

spirit  of  the  Christ  whom  we  love,  whose  disciples  we  all  desire  to 
be  and  in  whose  likeness  we  aim  to  grow  up. 

"And  now,  finally,  it  becomes  my  duty  formally  to  turn  over 
this  building  to  the  officers  who  are  to  take  charge  of  it  in  its 
various  phases.  First  of  all,  to  you,  Mr.  Timms,  representing  the 
session  of  the  church,  I  give  this  Bible,  as  a  symbol  of  the  fact 
that  the  perpetual  oversight  of  this  school  will  rest  with  you  and 
your  fellow-elders  of  the  session,  and  I  charge  you  to  be  faithful 
to  this  trust.  To  you,  Mr.  Smith,  as  superintendent  of  the  school, 
I  give  the  same  gift,  but  in  smaller  and  more  compact  form,  a 
size  more  adapted  to  the  doses  in  which  it  is  to  be  administered  to 
those  who  are  to  be  in  your  charge.  This  Bible  which  I  place  in 
your  hands  is  a  symbol  of  the  fact  that  the  truth  which  is  here  to 
be  taught  must  be  drawn  from  that  eternal  gospel  which  finds  its 
final  and  perfect  record  in  the  word  of  God.  To  Mr.  Condit,  as 
secretary  of  the  school,  I  give  this  book  of  records,  in  order  that 
you  may  realize  that  we  expect  that  you  will  add  to  sound  doctrine 
good  order,  and  I  am  sure  that  you  will  be  faithful  to  this  trust. 
Finally,  to  you,  Mr.  Kimball,  representing  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
I  give  these  keys,  as  a  symbol  of  the  physical  oversight  of  the 
property,  and  may  I  say  a  single  word  to  you  as  I  think  of  what 
these  keys  mean.  There  are  three  keys,  and  yet  they  are  all  alike. 
You  know  that  in  great  buildings  where  there  are  many  doors 
which  have  to  be  locked  we  have  what  is  called  a  master  key. 
A  master  key  is  a  key  which  opens  more  than  one  lock.  Now, 
these  keys  are  not,  technically  speaking,  master  keys;  they  will 
open  only  one  door,  and  yet  I  trust  that  in  reality  they  will  prove 
to  be  master  keys  for  this  building.  There  are  three  doors  which 
I  hope  they  will  be  able  to  unlock.  The  first  is  the  door  of 
security,  safety,  salvation  as  it  used  to  be  called  in  the  old  lan- 
guage that  we  are  almost  forgetting  how  to  speak.  One  does  not 
have  to  live  very  long  in  this  world  in  order  to  discover  that  there 


136  St.  Cloud  Church 

are  dangers  on  every  side.  We  try  to  insure  ourselves  against 
these  dangers  as  best  we  can  by  laying  up  money,  by  increasing 
our  knowledge,  by  adding  to  the  number  of  our  friends,  but  none 
of  these  ways  is  sufficient  to  keep  us  safe  in  the  great  crises  of  life. 
There  is  only  one  sure  way  of  safety,  and  that  is  to  lay  hold  on 
the  eternal  things  which  cannot  be  shaken — to  know  God  as  he  is 
revealed  to  us  in  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  This  is  one  door  into 
which  I  hope  many  may  enter  through  this  building. 

"The  second  is  the  door  of  service.  It  is  not  enough  to  be 
saved  oneself;  we  wish  to  help  others  to  a  like  security.  We  have 
heard  a  great  deal  today  about  the  new  outlook  that  has  come 
into  religion  with  the  new  day.  We  have  learned  that  no  one 
can  be  saved  alone.  We  are  saved  ourselves  only  as  we  help  our 
brothers,  and  the  door  which  leads  us  to  this  is  the  door  of  service. 
This,  too,  is  a  door  into  which  I  hope  many  of  us  may  enter. 

"But  there  is  still  another  door  which  needs  to  be  added,  a 
door  that  is  often  overlooked.  What  shall  I  call  it?  I  will  call 
it  the  door  of  serenity.  There  are  many  people,  good  Christian 
people,  very  certain  of  their  own  salvation,  who  are  yet  grim  and 
repellent  when  we  seek  to  approach  them.  There  are  many  people 
who  are  active  in  the  Christian  life,  filling  all  their  lives  with 
service,  who  are  yet  careworn  and  anxious.  There  is  a  gift  pos- 
sible to  us  all  if  only  we  know  how  to  grasp  it,  the  gift  of  inner 
harmony  and  happiness,  a  peace  of  God  which  passeth  under- 
standing, a  joy  of  Christ  which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take 
away.  God  grant  that  as  we  pass  through  the  door  of  security 
and  the  door  of  service  we  may  not  forget  that  inner  room,  into 
which  the  door  of  serenity  leads." 

The    following    letter    to    the    St.    Cloud    Church    from    Mr. 


St.  Cloud  Church  137 

McGregor,  who  was  unable  to  attend  the  dedication  services,  was 
printed  in  the  church  calendar  for  December : 

Letter  from  Rev.  R.  G.  McGregor. 

"The  invitation  has  come  to  me  to  be  present  at  the  dedication 
service  of  the  John  Crosby  Brown  Memorial  Sunday  School  Build- 
ing. How  I  wish  I  could  be  present,  but  11  o'clock  should  and 
probably  will  find  me  here  in  my  pulpit;  but  I  shall  be  with  all  of 
you,  my  dear  friends,  in  thought  and  affection;  for  when  I  think 
of  John  Crosby  Brown  my  mind  holds  the  form  of  a  man  whom 
I  learned  to  respect  and  admire  for  what  he  was  and  did ;  and  may 
we  not  say  also  for  what  he  is? 

"Surely  he,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh,  and  I  can  think  of  no 
greater  tribute  to  his  memory  than  that  some  boy  or  girl,  man 
or  woman,  should  seek  with  all  their  heart  to  be  like  him,  so 
gentle,  so  generous,  so  wise  and  so  willing.  These  are  character- 
istics of  his  life  which  made  him  one  to  be  patterned  after. 

"I  am  glad  to  know  of  the  completion  of  this  worthy  memorial 
by  his  children.  May  the  door  swing  wide  open  and  for  genera- 
tions to  come  may  the  boys  and  girls  of  St.  Cloud  Church  come 
together  to  learn  of  Him  whom  John  Crosby  Brown  honored  so 
much  in  his  private  and  public  life. 

"Faithfully  and  affectionately  yours, 

"Robert  Gardner  McGregor." 

The  Sunday  School  building  was  more  than  welcome.  The 
annual  report  for  1911,  published  in  July,  speaks  of  it  in  the 
highest  terms  of  praise  and  gratitude: 

"This  memorial  gift  has  proven  by  months  of  use  to  be  suited 
most  admirably  to  the  needs  of  the  school.  A  cheerful  room,  with 
comfortable   arrangements   of   classes,   it   has   been   enjoyed   by 


138  St.  Cloud  Church 

teachers  and  scholars  alike.  With  thanksgiving  we  remember  this 
great  addition  to  our  equipment  for  service.^' 

A  resolution  of  thanks  drawn  up  by  the  officers  of  the  church 
reads  as  follows : 

"The  dedication  of  a  beautiful  and  well-equipped  Sabbath 
School  building  for  the  use  of  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church 
is  an  event  which  calls  for  particular  recognition;  the  more  so 
because  this  building  is  given  in  memory  of  a  dear  friend  of  the 
church  by  his  children,  who  have  grown  up  in  this  Sabbath  School. 

"We  recall  with  gratitude  the  many  years  from  the  beginning 
in  which  Mr.  Brown  was  with  us,  a  joyous  helper  in  every  interest 
which  centered  there.  A  large  measure  of  the  success  attained  has 
been  due  to  his  quiet,  uplifting  influence;  patient  under  any  dis- 
couraging conditions,  always  looking  ahead  to  the  wider  use- 
fulness. 

"The  officers  of  the  church  desire  to  convey  to  the  donors  of 
this  beautiful  memorial  the  thanks  of  the  many  who  in  the  years 
to  come  will  enjoy  the  blessing  of  this  gift,  cherishing  the  expecta- 
tion that  the  unending  benefits  they  have  thus  conferred  will  return 
to  each  of  them  a  thousand-fold. 

"St.  Cloud,  West  Orange,  November  13th,  1910. 

"The  Officers  of  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church : 

John  P.  Condit  Theo.  M.  Timms 

Willet  C.  Roper  Elmer  Condit 

M.  E.  Condit  William  E.  Condit 

Alfred  R.  Kimball  Edmund  H.  Moore 

Robert  Baird  Winthrop  D.  Smith 

Moreau  Delano" 

Another  welcome  addition  to  the  equipment  of  the  community 
given  at  this  same  time  was  Mrs.  Brown's  memorial  to  her  hus- 


St.  Cloud  Church  I39 

band,  a  new  and  beautiful  club  house  to  take  the  place  of  the 
parish  house  which  was  built  by  the  congregation  in  1904.  The 
two  memorials  were  built  at  the  same  time  on  adjoining  plots  of 
ground  and  harmonize  in  their  architectural  design.  The  archi- 
tect was  Mr.  William  Adams  Delano,  who  gave  his  services. 

"The  club  house,"  to  quote  from  an  Orange  paper,  "is  not  a 
part  of  the  church  equipment,  the  club  being  non-sectarian,  but 
it  is  designed  as  the  social  center  of  the  community,  and  plans  for 
enlarging  its  activities  are  under  way.  It  contains  a  main  assem- 
bly hall,  28  by  40  feet  in  size;  a  completely  equipped  kitchen,  and 
a  reading  room.  In  the  latter  there  is  a  collection  of  books  from 
the  Orange  Free  Library,  which  maintains  a  branch  here.  Organi- 
zations of  boys  and  men  use  the  club  house,  and  it  is  also  the 
headquarters  of  a  district  nurse.  There  is  a  big  playroom  in  the 
basement,  and  the  building  is  heated  by  steam  and  lighted  by 
electricity." 


140  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

A  year  after  the  dedication  of  the  Memorial  Sunday  School 
Building,  Mr.  Newell  received  a  call  to  the  Sixth  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Chicago — a  pulpit  left  vacant  by  Dr.  Merrill's  accept- 
ance of  the  call  of  the  Brick  Church  in  New  York.  On  the  26th 
of  November  Mr.  Newell  announced  at  the  Sunday  morning  serv- 
ice that  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  accept  the  call.  This  was  a  great  loss 
to  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  for  Mr.  Newell  had  been  an  excellent 
pastor  and  a  good  preacher,  and  was  much  beloved  by  the  con- 
gregation. His  departure  was  quite  sudden,  but  his  parting  mes- 
sage, written  from  Chicago,  was  printed  in  the  church  calendar  for 
December : 

Letter  from  Rev.  G.  K.  Newell. 

"Dear  friends  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church: 

"This  calendar  offers  me  an  opportunity  for  a  final  word. 

"Religion  is  not  a  luxury  nor  an  amusement,  but  a  serious 
necessity;  it  is  necessary  for  the  salvation  of  the  individual,  the 
home,  and  the  community.  Your  gifts  to  the  church,  your  per- 
sonal labor  for  the  church  are  your  contributions,  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ,  toward  safeguarding  the  moral  conditions  and 
developing  the  spiritual  forces  of  the  neighborhood. 

"With  your  splendid  church  equipment  and  with  the  incen- 
tives of  a  new  pastorate  it  will  rest  largely  with  you,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  whether  your  church  shall  show  satisfactory 
results.  A  full  church  and  a  fresh  interest  in  spiritual  things  will 
help  your  minister  to  do  his  best;  kindliness,  neighborliness  will 
attract  men  to  the  church  who  do  not  ordinarily  attend. 

"These  past  days  of  parting,  with  all  their  sadness,  have  left 


St.  Cloud  Church  141 

me  and  mine  much  richer  for  your  good  wishes.  A  wealth  of 
happy  memories  goes  with  us.  Best  of  all  is  our  constant  assur- 
ance of  the  good  things  in  store  for  the  church.  May  God's  kind 
favor  and  rich  blessing  be  with  you  all. 

"Your  sincere  friend, 

"G.  K.  Newell." 

A  committee  with  Mr.  Kimball  as  chairman  was  appointed  to 
consider  the  selection  of  a  new  minister.  The  choice  fell  upon 
the  Rev.  A.  Roy  Ehman,  a  graduate  of  Auburn  Seminary,  who 
had  preached  at  the  St.  Cloud  Church  on  Thanksgiving  Day 
(1911)  and  who  supplied  the  pulpit  for  two  months  during  the 
following  winter.  Mr.  Ehman  was  living  in  Newark  at  the  time, 
having  resigned  his  former  pastorate  in  the  Onondaga  Valley 
Presbyterian  Church  on  account  of  ill  health. 

The  choice  of  the  new  minister  was  an  affair,  not  only  of  the 
committee,  but  of  the  whole  congregation.  One  hundred  and  ten 
members  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  and  congregation,  representing 
practically  every  family  in  St.  Cloud,  signed  a  petition  in  the 
spring  of  1912  urging  the  calling  of  Mr.  Ehman.  "The  proceed- 
ing by  petition,"  says  a  current  newspaper,  "is  an  unusual  one, 
but  is  sanctioned  by  the  form  of  government  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church." 

A  congregational  meeting  was  called  for  Sunday,  May  19th, 
1912,  and  was  held  directly  after  the  morning  service.  The  Rev. 
Charles  B.  Bullard,  pastor  of  the  Elmwood  Presbyterian  Church, 
East  Orange,  acted  as  moderator  and  Deacon  Willet  Roper  as 
secretary. 

Mr.  Kimball,  chairman  of  the  pastoral  committee,  reported 
that  they  unanimously  recommended  extending  a  call  to  Mr. 
Ehman.  Letters  were  read  detailing  Mr.  Ehman's  activity  in 
mission  work  during  his  college  years,  his  energy  in  his  former 


142  St.  Cloud  Church 

pastorate,  his  success  with  young  people,  and  his  participation  in 
athletics.  The  request  of  110  residents  of  St.  Cloud  Church  that 
Mr.  Ehman  be  called  was  also  read. 

The  wish  of  the  young  people  of  the  congregation  that  a  call 
be  given  was  expressed  by  Miss  Margaret  Todd,  representing  the 
teachers  of  the  Sunday  School;  by  Miss  Emma  Olstead,  speaking 
for  the  school,  and  by  Norman  Barker,  representing  the  C.  E. 
Society.  On  the  motion  of  Frank  H.  Jamison,  the  recommendation 
of  the  committee  was  concurred  in. 

Mr.  Eugene  Delano  expressed  gratification  at  the  unanimous 
statement  of  the  church  and  on  the  motion  of  Elder  Timms  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  prosecute  the  call  before  the  Presbytery. 

The  announcement  that  Mr.  Ehman  had  accepted  the  call  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  was  made  at  the  services  the 
following  Sunday,  May  26th.  Mr.  Ehman  stated  in  a  letter  read 
to  the  congregation  by  Mr.  W.  Roper  that  he  proposed  to  accept 
the  call,  should  it  receive  the  sanction  of  the  Presbytery,  and  that 
he  did  so  with  a  deepening  sense  of  the  responsibilities  and  oppor- 
tunities of  the  work.  It  was  also  announced  that  on  the  following 
Sunday  he  would  conduct  the  celebration  of  holy  communion, 
assisted  by  Dr.  William  Adams  Brown. 

Four  weeks  later  the  new  minister  was  installed.  Five  Pres- 
byterian ministers  and  one  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  faith 
assisted  at  the  services  on  the  evening  of  June  21st,  1912.  The 
presiding  officer  was  the  moderator  of  the  Presbytery,  Rev.  David 
0.  Irving,  pastor  of  Bethel  Presbyterian  Church,  East  Orange. 
The  Scripture  reading  was  by  Rev.  W.  W.  P.  Bliss,  rector  of  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  St.  Cloud.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich,  formerly  pastor  of  the 
church  and  lately  of  the  American  Church  in  Paris.  The  prayer 
of  installation  was  offered  by  Rev.  Charles  B.  Bullard.  The 
charge  to  the  pastor  was  given  by  Dr.  Charles  Townsend,  pastor 


St.  Cloud  Church  143 

of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Orange,  and  the  charge  to 
the  people  by  Dr.  William  Adams  Brown,  professor  in  Union 
Theological  Seminary.     Mr.  Ehman  pronounced  the  benediction. 

The  need  of  more  intensive  thought  and  faith  was  dwelt  upon 
by  Mr.  Goodrich.  He  spoke  of  the  advance  in  education,  but  said 
that  notwithstanding  this  it  would  be  as  difficult  for  the  average 
person  today  to  justify  his  faith  by  expert  and  thorough  knowl- 
edge as  it  was  for  the  disciples  of  old.  In  order  to  enjoy  a  beau- 
tiful flower,  he  said,  it  was  not  necessary  for  one  to  be  a  horti- 
culturist, and  so,  for  one  to  be  a  Christian,  it  was  not  necessary  to 
be  versed  in  theology.    Faith,  he  said,  was  the  great  necessity. 

In  giving  the  charge  to  the  pastor  Dr.  Townsend  congratulated 
him  upon  being  called  to  a  church  on  the  mountain  top  overlook- 
ing the  great  city  and  the  ocean,  describing  the  mountain  as  "God's 
beautiful  panoramic  synagogue."  He  said  there  must  be  some 
peculiar  sustenance  and  ability  transmitted  to  men  by  the  St. 
Cloud  Church,  for  the  valleys,  when  they  grew  hungry,  called  its 
ministers  away  to  Albany,  to  Paris,  to  New  Rochelle,  and  to 
Chicago. 

Dr.  Townsend  advised  the  pastor  to  take  plenty  of  time  for 
spiritual  refreshment  and  study.  He  predicted  that  the  minister 
would  be  criticised  and  perhaps  denounced,  but  said  that  denun- 
ciation was  one  of  the  easiest  accomplishments.  He  advised  him 
not  to  go  around  with  his  pocket  full  of  interrogation  points  and 
not  to  strive  to  be  a  "popular  preacher,"  but  to  give  a  spiritual 
message.  Dr.  Townsend  hoped  that  there  would  be  no  "tailboard 
members"  in  the  church,  but,  if  there  were,  he  suggested  that  they 
be  pushed  off  the  tailboard  and  put  to  work  moving  the  wheels. 

In  charging  the  people  Dr.  Brown  recalled  that  all  the  pastors 
of  the  church  had  been  his  friends,  and  that,  having  grown  up  in 
the  parish,  he  felt  that  whatever  he  said  applied  to  himself  as  well 
as  to  the  congregation.     He  urged  that  the  people  should  not 


144  St.  Cloud  Church 

expect  the  pastor  to  use  his  hands  to  the  exclusion  of  his  heart, 
or  any  of  these  functions  solely.  He  said  the  people  should  make 
their  pastor  their  confidant  and  friend,  and  on  their  behalf  he 
pledged  to  Mr.  Ehman  their  hospitality,  friendship,  loyalty,  affec- 
tion and  prayer. 

The  church  was  decorated  with  palms  and  flowers.  The  occa- 
sion was  a  happy  one,  and  the  congregation  seemed  pleased  with 
the  minister  of  their  choice. 

Soon  after,  on  the  evening  of  July  1st,  a  reception  to  meet  Mr. 
Ehman  was  given  by  the  officers  of  the  church.  All  the  congrega- 
tion and  its  friends  were  invited,  and  the  new  pastor  received  a 
warm  welcome. 

Of  all  the  ministers  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  none  have  been 
more  earnest  and  untiring  in  their  efforts  for  the  welfare,  both 
material  and  spiritual,  of  their  flock  than  Mr.  Ehman.  His  Ford 
car  has  been  at  the  service  of  all  his  people.  It  has  given  rest 
and  refreshment  to  the  worn  and  tired,  and  pleasure  to  young  and 
old.  In  it  he  has  carried  the  sick  to  the  hospital,  and  after  faith- 
fully visiting  them  while  there,  he  has  brought  them  home  again. 
His  desire  for  the  church  is  well  expressed  in  the  following  extract 
taken  from  the  church  calendar  for  August,  1916: 

"In  the  minds  of  an  increasing  number  of  people  the  greatest 
need  of  this  mountain  is  a  revival  of  religion,  that  religion  which 
has  to  do  with  a  soul's  relation  to  its  God  and  which  results  in  an 
overflowing  heart  of  love.  Undoubtedly  this  is  true.  But  it  must 
not  be  forgotten  that  the  secret  of  such  an  awakening  lies  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  desire  it.  The  spirit  of  prayer,  which  has  been 
more  or  less  active  during  the  past  year,  must  grow.  More  must 
share  in  the  service.  Is  it  too  much  to  ask  that  all  who  have  named 
the  name  of  Christ  should  join  in  this  prayer  circle?  And  is  it 
not  necessary  that  all,  when  they  pray,  should  be  willing,  even 


St.  Cloud  Church  145 

anxious,  that  God's  work  should  begin  in  their  own  hearts?  These 
days  are  splendid  days  for  this  very  important  work." 

The  church  has  progressed  materially  as  well  as  spiritually, 
and  all  anxiety  as  to  its  permanent  financial  support  has  recently 
been  relieved  by  the  gift  of  a  trust  fund  from  Mr.  Eugene  Delano, 
a  beautiful  memorial  to  his  wife. 

The  following  quotation  from  the  church  calendar  for  May, 
1917,  gives  the  official  announcement  of  the  gift: 

"At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  church  congregation  on  Sun- 
day morning,  April  15th,  1912,  the  following  report  was  pre- 
sented: The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian 
Church  have  been  informed  by  Mr.  Eugene  Delano  that  he  has 
established  a  trust  fund  in  the  hands  of  the  United  States  Trust 
Company  of  New  York,  the  income  of  which  is  to  be  paid  to  them 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  church ;  and  this  fund  is  to  be  named 
in  memory  of  his  wife,  Susan  Magoun  Delano,  and  a  certified 
copy  of  this  agreement  has  been  filed  with  the  secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees. 

"  'In  acknowledging  the  establishment  of  this  fund,  the  trus- 
tees of  the  church  desire  to  record  upon  their  minutes  and  convey 
to  Mr.  Delano  an  expression  of  their  high  appreciation  of  his  gen- 
erous impulse  in  thus  providing  for  the  permanent  continuance  of 
his  support  of  the  church,  and  their  gratification  that  this  gift  is 
to  be  associated  forever  with  the  name  of  one  whose  gracious 
presence  and  useful  activity  is  a  precious  memory  in  the  life  of 
the  church  and  the  community.' " 


146  St.  Cloud  Church 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


On  Sunday  morning,  July  9th,  1916,  Mr.  Ehman  announced 
from  the  pulpit  that  the  news  of  the  death  of  Rev.  William  F. 
Whitaker,  at  his  home  in  Elizabeth,  had  just  reached  him.  It  was 
very  sudden,  as  on  Saturday  afternoon  he  was  apparently  in  good 
health  and  had  just  returned  from  visiting  his  aged  parents  at 
Southold,  Long  Island.  The  sermon  which  he  expected  to  preach 
in  the  morning  lay  on  his  writing  table,  and  he  had  prepared 
everything  for  that  Sunday  morning  service  as  usual. 

The  congregation  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  was  greatly 
shocked  and  affected  by  the  sad  news  and  many  tears  were  shed. 
For  the  memory  of  the  work  of  their  former  pastor.  Dr.  Whitaker, 
is  held  by  them  in  affectionate  remembrance,  for  his  work  and 
labor  of  love  they  can  never  forget. 

The  funeral  service  was  held  in  the  evening  of  July  11th, 
in  his  own  church,  the  First  Presbyterian,  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

A  year  later,  on  Sunday  morning,  July  15th,  a  very  inter- 
esting and  unique  service  was  held  at  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Southold,  Long  Island,  where  a  tablet  was  unveiled  to  Rev. 
Epher  Whitaker,  and  also  one  to  his  son,  the  Rev.  William  F. 
Whitaker.  The  former  was  ninety-six  years  of  age  and  had  been 
pastor  and  pastor  emeritus  of  that  church  for  sixty-five  years.  The 
other  tablet  was  to  his  son.  Rev.  William  F.  Whitaker,  who  for 
seventeen  years  was  pastor  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  for  thirteen 
years  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Albany,  and  for  nine 
years  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Elizabeth. 

This  service  was  of  peculiar  interest  to  the  people  of  the  St. 
Cloud  Church,  as  Dr.  Whitaker's  father  had  given  the  charge  to 
his  son  when  he  was  installed  as  its  pastor  on  November  22, 
1877. 


St.  Cloud  Church  147 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


During  the  past  year  the  St.  Cloud  Church  has  celebrated  its 
fortieth  anniversary.  A  detailed  account  of  this  celebration 
appears  with  similar  accounts  in  the  appendix  of  this  book. 

In  closing,  it  is  interesting,  however,  to  notice  the  prominent 
part  which  the  children  played  on  this  last  occasion.  The  Sunday 
School  pupils,  taking  the  part  of  historians,  themselves  gave  the 
account  of  various  bits  of  church  history.  This  was  a  happy 
thought  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Ehman,  for  it  not  only  recognized  the 
custom,  which  has  always  been  observed  at  St.  Cloud,  of  cele- 
brating Children's  Day  and  the  church's  anniversary  at  the  same 
time,  but  it  added  greatly  to  the  interest  of  the  service,  and,  most 
important  of  all,  it  fixed  in  the  minds  of  these  members  of  the 
rising  generation  facts  well  worth  remembering  concerning  the 
history  and  achievement  of  their  church. 

It  is  this  same  hope  of  preserving  the  history  of  the  first  forty 
years  of  the  life  of  the  church  that  has  been  the  motive  and 
inspiration  of  this  little  volume. 


St.  Cloud  Church  149 

APPENDIX 

ANNIVERSARIES. 

The  St.  Cloud  Church,  in  observing  its  anniversaries,  has 
always  combined  these  celebrations  with  the  Children's  Day  serv- 
ices— a  custom  which  has  already  been  referred  to  in  the  account 
of  the  first  joint  celebration — June,  1878.  It  is  of  course  true 
that  the  church  has  not  observed  its  birthday  every  year,  while 
Children's  Day,  on  the  other  hand,  has  been  observed  annually, 
and  of  Children's  Day  services  other  than  those  held  in  connec- 
tion with  church  anniversaries  we  have  the  following  account : 

"At  the  sixth  anniversary,  an  address  was  delivered  by  the 
Rev.  I.  H.  Polhemus;  the  eighth  was  marked  by  a  more  elaborate 
program,  which  included  among  other  features,  addresses  by  Mr. 
Brown,  Mr.  Jesse  B.  Rogers,  and  Mr.  Timms.  The  Rev.  Isaac  E. 
Gates  made  the  address  on  the  occasion  of  the  twelfth  Children's 
Day,  and  in  1890,  on  the  thirteenth  anniversary,  the  address  was 
given  by  the  Rev.  William  Adams  Brown,  who  had  just  graduated 
from  Union  Theological  Seminary.  On  the  seventeenth  Chil- 
dren's Day  Mr.  Whitaker  delivered  a  short  address  reviewing  the 
history  of  the  school  from  the  time  of  its  first  meeting  in  the 
incompleted  church  building  (May,  1877) ." 

In  offering  a  review  of  the  main  anniversaries  of  the  church, 
the  5th,  the  10th,  the  25th,  and  the  40th,  indulgence  must  be 
craved  for  a  certain  amount  of  repetition,  which,  however,  is 
unavoidable.  It  is  felt  that  this  disadvantage  is  counterbalanced 
by  the  value  of  preserving  in  consecutive  form  the  record  of  the 
successive  occasions. 

Although  the  third  anniversary  was  not  one  of  those  particu- 


150  St.  Cloud  Church 

larly  emphasized,  we  find  this  hymn,  which  was  adapted  for  the 
occasion  from  a  Centennial  Hymn  prepared  for  a  New  England 
church : 

Almighty  God,  this  church  today 
To  Thee  her  vows  would  gladly  pay, 
And  on  this  anniversary  raise 
A  reverent  song  of  grateful  praise. 

We  thank  Thee  for  those  men  of  God 
Who  reared  this  altar  to  their  Lord; 
And  that  Thy  care  its  flame  shall  keep 
Alive,  e'en  when  the  fathers  sleep. 

Through  these  three  years  its  wall  secure 
In  "strength  and  beauty"  safe  endure ; 
While  sheaf  of  wheat  and  font  of  stone 
Recall  loved  faces  that  are  gone. 

We  thank  Thee  for  Thy  holy  word, 
Whose  blessed  truths  have  here  been  heard; 
We  thank  Thee  for  this  comfort  true, 
The  promise:  "I  will  come  to  you." 

We  thank  Thee  for  the  "strength"  received 
By  men  and  women  who  believed 
Thy  word ;  and  for  the  memories  rare 
That  cluster  round  this  house  of  prayer. 

For  all  Thy  care  in  these  three  years, 
'Mid  joy  and  sorrow,  hopes  and  fears, 


St.  Cloud  Church  151 

We  praise  Thy  name;  and  ask  that  still 
Thy  presence  blest  our  hearts  may  fill. 

Today  we  bring  our  past  to  Thee; 
Help  us  more  consecrate  to  be: 
Forgive  our  sins;  and  may  this  place 
Still  know  the  blessings  of  Thy  grace. 

We  walk  by  faith,  for,  though  we  see 

Not  yet  the  glory  that  shall  be, 

We  know  the  "path"  our  friends  have  trod — 

It  leads  to  heaven;  they  "walk  with  God." 

r: 

Guide  Thou  this  church  in  years  to  come, 
Till  all  Thy  saints  are  gathered  home, 
And  in  Thy  blessed  presence  stay. 
Whose  thousand  years  are  as  one  day. 

The  details  of  the  joint  celebration  at  the  time  of  the  fifth 
anniversary  can  be  gathered  from  the  following  notice   (1882)  : 

"The  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  our  church  will  be 
observed  tomorrow  morning  at  11  o'clock.  There  will  be  a 
'Children's  Service'  in  place  of  the  usual  order  of  worship;  and 
this  will  include  responsive  readings,  presentations  of  emblems 
by  the  classes,  selected  hymns,  etc.  The  superintendent  of  the 
school,  Mr.  Brown,  who  has  been  in  Europe  for  more  than  a  year, 
has  just  returned  to  his  home,  and  he  will  be  welcomed  by  his 
teachers  and  scholars  in  an  exercise  which  has  been  arranged  for 
the  occasion.  Wild  flowers  will  be  used  this  year  for  the  decora- 
tion of  the  church. 


152  St.  Cloud  Church 

"During  five  years  the  membership  has  increased  about  300 
per  cent,  and  there  has  been  a  steady  growth  in  the  congregation 
and  the  Sunday  School." 

The  decennial  of  the  church  was  the  occasion  for  a  series  of 
services,  an  account  of  which  appears  in  a  local  newspaper: 

"The  services  at  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church  on  Chil- 
dren's Day  were  the  first  of  a  series  extending  through  the  week, 
and  marking  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the  church.  On  Sunday 
there  were  songs  and  recitations  by  the  little  people.  The  history 
of  the  decade  was  reviewed  by  the  pastor  in  connection  with  the 
building  of  a  tall  pyramid  of  ten  parts  by  the  larger  pupils.  One 
feature  of  the  decoration  was  a  floral  piece  in  which  the  date, 
1877,  was  worked  in  wheat,  while  1887  was  worked  in  daisies.  On 
Tuesday  evening  there  was  a  social  reunion,  with  reports  of  ten 
departments  of  church  work,  a  few  addresses,  and  letters  of  con- 
gratulation. Refreshments  were  provided  in  two  tents  pitched 
near  the  church.  On  Thursday  afternoon  the  ladies  of  the 
congregation  held  a  praise  meeting.  There  were  reports  of  mis- 
sionary work  at  home  and  abroad,  and  an  address  with  maps  and 
charts  by  Miss  Grace  Wilder,  of  India.  The  thank-ofl"erings  sent 
to  the  meeting  amounted  to  more  than  $130.  Last  evening  there 
was  a  memorial  service,  and  the  necrology  of  ten  years  was  pre- 
sented. The  report  showed  that  there  had  not  been  one  death 
among  the  regular  attendants  in  the  infant  department,  only  two 
deaths  among  the  pupils  in  the  main  school,  and  only  eight  deaths 
among  all  those  in  full  membership  in  the  church." 

At  3  o'clock  on  Saturday  afternoon  there  was  a  public  meeting 
of  the  "Willing  Workers,"  with  which  the  series  of  anniversary 
services  closed.  During  the  week  congratulatory  letters  were 
received  from  Dr.  Mix,  Dr.  Edward  C.  Moore,  Dr.  Stephen  Wickes, 


St.  Cloud  Church  153 

Mr.  Eugene  Delano,  Mr.  Orlando  E.  Condit,  and  many  others.  The 
letter  from  Dr.  Moore  reads  as  follows: 

Letter  from  Rev.  E.  C.  Moore. 

"Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  June  13,  1887. 
"To  the  church  and  congregation  at  St.  Cloud: 

"It  would  be  a  very  great  pleasure  to  me  if  I  could  be  with 
you  in  some  of  the  exercises  of  this  your  anniversary  week.  I 
cannot  forbear  to  send  you  my  word  of  remembrance  and  greet- 
ing, that  I,  too,  may  be  associated  with  you  in  the  joy  and  thanks- 
giving of  these  days. 

"Four  years  ago  I  spent  three  months  of  a  summer  vacation 
with  you,  in  the  absence  of  your  pastor.  That  was  but  a  little 
experience  to  you.  But  it  was  not  small  to  me.  It  was  my  first 
experience  in  continuous  preaching,  and  my  first  experience  of 
pastoral  work.  The  whole  thing  sank  deep  into  my  heart  and  life, 
and  went  far  toward  my  making,  and  from  that  time,  as  I  have 
now  and  then  returned  to  you,  you  have  received  me  with  a 
remembrance  and  regard  which  have  been  most  deeply  grateful 
to  me.  I  have  always  felt  that  I  owed  to  the  dear  little  church 
on  the  mountain  much  of  all  that  which  a  pastor  always  owes  to 
his  first  charge,  and  have  had  much  of  the  same  affection  for  the 
church.  I  rejoice  with  you,  on  this  your  anniversary  occasion, 
giving  thanks  with  you  and  for  you,  for  all  the  way  that  God  has 
led  you,  and  praying,  both  with  you  and  for  you,  that  He  will 
bless  you  in  all  things  even  more  richly  than  He  has  done  in  the 
past,  especially  in  the  outpouring  of  His  Holy  Spirit  on  your 
hearts,  the  turning  men  by  your  means  unto  Himself,  and  the 
building  up  of  you  all  on  your  most  holy  faith. 
"Most  truly  yours, 

"Edward  C.  Moore." 


154  St.  Cloud  Church 

Of  the  25lh  anniversary  services  we  have  a  detailed  account. 
Appropriate  services  were  held  June  15th,  1902,  in  celebration  of 
the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  church. 
All  the  services  were  attended  by  unusually  large  congregations, 
and  there  were  also  many  guests  present  from  the  Oranges,  Mont- 
clair,  Newark  and  other  cities  in  the  vicinity.  A  feature  of  the 
day  was  the  presence  of  the  two  former  pastors  of  the  church, 
Dr.  William  F.  Whitaker  and  the  Rev.  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich. 

The  children's  singing  was  led  by  Miss  Jessie  A.  Lander  with 
the  cornet.  Mr.  McGregor  made  an  address,  followed  by  Dr. 
Whitaker  and  Rev.  Mr.  Goodrich.  The  latter  paid  a  worthy 
tribute  to  Mr.  A.  A.  Quimby,  who  has  been  organist  of  the  church 
since  its  foundation. 

In  the  afternoon  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  cele- 
brated. The  evening  service  was  opened  with  singing.  The 
scripture  lesson  was  read  by  Mr.  Goodrich,  who  also  offered 
prayer,  and  after  the  hymn,  "How  Firm  a  Foundation,"  Dr. 
Whitaker  spoke  of  "Reminiscences."  He  recalled  the  names  and 
interest  and  work  of  men  and  women  who  had  been  connected  with 
the  church  for  twenty-five  years.  He  paid  fitting  tribute  to  Gen- 
eral Marcy,  General  McClellan,  Dr.  Adams,  Mr.  Marcellus  Hart- 
ley, and  others  associated  with  the  church.  "While,"  said  the 
speaker,  "this  church  is  small  and  has  been  attended  by  compara- 
tively few,  yet  God  has  blessed  it  abundantly,  and  its  benefactions 
and  its  contributions  to  deserving  claims  have  made  its  influence 
felt  in  many  places  as  a  sweet  fragrance." 

Thank-offerings  were  given  at  the  anniversary  services  for  the 
raising  of  a  sum  of  money  to  pay  off  a  debt  on  the  church  and 
parsonage.  Up  to  last  Saturday  the  total  amount  of  the  outstand- 
ing debt  was  $3,100.  Half  of  this  was  pledged,  and  although  no 
detailed  report  of  the  offerings  has  been  made,  it  is  believed  that 


St.  Cloud  Church  155 

announcement  will  be  made  from  the  pulpit  tomorrow  that  the 
church  is  absolutely  free  from  debt. 

At  the  morning  service  Mr.  McGregor  read  congratulatory  let- 
ters from  Dr.  Eldridge  Mix,  of  Worcester;  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Ferguson, 
of  Hanover,  who  gave  the  charge  to  the  people  when  the  first 
pastor  was  installed;  from  the  session  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  mother  church  of  the  Oranges;  from  the  Rev.  G. 
Smythe,  of  East  Orange;  Professor  W.  Adams  Brown,  of  New 
York  City,  and  Mr.  Alfred  R.  Kimball,  written  from  Milan,  Italy. 

The  following  extract  from  the  church  calendar  for  June, 
1917,  indicates  the  way  in  which  the  40th  anniversary  of  the 
church  was  celebrated: 

"On  Children's  Day,  June  10th,  the  St.  Cloud  Presbyterian 
Church  will  be  forty  years  old.  The  occasion  will  be  observed  at 
morning  worship  on  that  day  in  connection  with  the  exercises  of 
the  Sunday  School.  It  has  seemed  wise  to  let  the  part  the  school 
would  naturally  take  assume  the  form  of  a  historical  review  of 
some  of  the  interesting  features  of  the  church's  story." 

THE  ORDER  OF  SERVICE 
The  Processional 

The  people  will  rise  as  the  School  enters  and  remain  standing  until 
after   the   response 

Hymn,  "Brightly  Gleams  Our  Banner" 

The  Invocation 

The  Response 

Responsive  Reading 

We  have  heard  v/ith  our  ears,  0  God,  our  fathers  have  told  us, 

What  work  Thou  didst  in  their  days,  in  the  days  of  old. 


156  St.  Cloud  Church 

We  will  not  hide  them  from  their  children, 
Telling  to  the  generation  to  come  the  praises  of  the  Lord, 
And  His  strength,  and  his  wondrous  works  that  He  hath  done. 
That  the  generation  to  come  might  know  them,  even  the  children 

that  should  be  born; 
Who  should  arise  and  tell  them  to  their  children, 
That  they  might  set  their  hope  in  God  and  not  forget  the  works 

of  God. 
Blessed  is  the  man  whom  Thou  choosest, 
And  causest  to  approach  unto  Thee,  that  he  may  dwell  in  Thy 

courts ; 
We  shall  be  satisfied  with  the  goodness  of  Thy  house;   and  of 

Thy  holy  temple. 
Let  Thy  work  appear  unto  Thy  servants,  and  Thy  glory  upon 

their  children, 
And  let  the  favor  of  the  Lord  our  God  be  upon  us; 
And  establish  Thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us;   yea,  the 

work  of  our  hands  establish  Thou  it. 
Hymn,  "Summer  Suns  Are  Glowing" Primary  Department 

The  Story  of  the  Church 

Important  Dates Mr.  Drew's  Class 

The  Buildings Miss  Katharine  Schroll's  Class 

The  Charter  Members Primary  Department 

Hymn,  "Faith  of  Our  Fathers" 

The  Pastors  of  the  Church Miss  Hufford's  Class 

Memorials  of  the  Church .Miss  Amy  Schroll's  Class 

Hymn,  "For  All  Thy  Saints" 

Pictures  from  the  Past Miss  Wulff's  Class 


St.  Cloud  Church  157 

Hymn,  "Church  of  the  Living  God" 

Report  of  Secretary 

Awards 

Offering 

Hymn  No.  247— "America  the  Beautiful" 

Benediction 

The  church  was  well  filled  and  the  service  was  most  successful 
in  securing  the  interested  attention  of  the  congregation.  All  those 
present  were  asked,  as  they  left  the  church,  to  sign  their  names  in 
a  blank-book  near  the  door,  as  a  record  for  the  future.  The  fol- 
lowing letters  to  the  congregation  were  read: 

Letter  from  Rev.  R.  G.  McGregor. 

"The  North  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church, 

"New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.,  June  1,  1917. 
"The  Rev.  Alfred  Roy  Ehman. 
"My  dear  Brother: 

"I  am  in  receipt  of  your  invitation  to  attend  the  40th  anni- 
versary of  the  organization  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church.  I  wish  I 
might  be  present  in  person,  as  I  shall  be  in  spirit,  but  my  having 
just  returned  from  a  two  weeks'  absence  at  the  General  Assembly 
makes  it  quite  impossible  for  me  to  be  away  on  the  10th,  much 
as  I  should  like  to. 

"It  gives  me  pleasure,  however,  to  send  to  you,  and  through 
you  to  the  officers,  members  and  friends  of  the  dear  mountain 
church,  my  heartiest  greetings  and  good  wishes.  My!  how  the 
years  go  by!  It  does  not  seem  possible  that  this  can  be  your 
fortieth.  Why,  it  was  only  a  few  days  ago  that  we  celebrated  the 
25th,  the  great  silver  anniversary  of  the  church.     Personally,  I 


158  St.  Cloud  Church 

do  not  feel  a  day  older,  and  for  the  little  church  you  serve  my 
love  is  as  great  as  when  I  was  the  honored  pastor. 

"I  am  reminded,  though,  that  these  years  have  thinned  the 
ranks  of  those  who  loved  the  church  and  served  her  well.  I  am 
thinking  now  of  Mrs.  Delano,  of  Mr.  William  N.  and  Mr.  Orlando 
Williams — also  of  Mrs.  Jacobus,  and  Mrs.  John  Condit  and  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Robert  Baird.  I  am  thinking  of  Mrs.  Timms  and  Mrs. 
Quinby;  and  then  I'm  thinking,  too,  of  him  who  served  that  little 
church  so  long  and  faithfully,  her  first  pastor.  Dr.  Whitaker. 
Truly  the  years  since  our  25th  anniversary  have  left  their  marks. 

"In  Westminster  Abbey,  marking  the  resting  place  of  the  two 
Wesleys,  are  these  words: 

"  'God  buries  his  workmen, 
But  carries  on  his  work.' 

May  this  be  realized  to  the  full  in  dear  St.  Cloud.  May  new 
workers  from  the  boys  and  girls  who  knew  these  good  and  true 
men  and  women  who  have  served  so  well  arise  to  carry  on  the 
work  they  have  laid  down. 

"My  personal  greetings  to  you,  my  college  classmate  and 
friend,  and  to  all  who  worship  with  you  in  the  church  I  love 
dearly.  Mrs.  McGregor  joins  me  in  hearty  congratulations  and 
continued  good  wishes. 

"Faithfully  yours, 

"Robert  Gardner  McGregor." 
"June  6,    1917. 

Letter  from  Rev.  G.  K.  Newell. 
"Dear  Mr.  Ehman: 

"It  is  a  very  hapy  and  auspicious  event  that  the  birthday  of  the 
St.  Cloud  Presbyterian  Church  falls  on  Children's  Day.  Would 
that  more  churches  would  mark  their  anniversaries  by  their  Chil- 
dren's Days. 


St.  Cloud  Church  159 

"During  my  St.  Cloud  pastorate  the  Sunday  School  was  one 
of  my  chief  delights.  God  bless  the  St.  Cloud  Church  in  its 
ministry  to  boys  and  girls. 

"The  40th  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  church  brings  a 
flood  of  memories.  It  was  but  yesterday  that  I  helped  at  the  30th 
birthday  of  the  church. 

"I  wonder  whether  the  last  ten  years  have  not  witnessed  as 
many  changes  at  St.  Cloud  as  there  were  seen  in  the  previous 
thirty  years.  This  may  not  be  so,  but  I  know  there  have  been 
many  changes,  both  in  the  membership  of  the  congregation  and  in 
the  dwellers  upon  the  hills  and  in  the  valleys  around  about  the 
church.  Two  names  come  to  me  that  were  found  upon  the  orig- 
inal church  roll  who  are  there  today,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKenzie. 
Mr.  Delano  was  a  charter  member,  although  his  actual  church 
membership  is  not  found  in  the  St.  Cloud  records  at  present. 

"How  many  names  are  held  in  sacred  memory  today  because 
of  their  association  with  the  St.  Cloud  Church;  whatever  the 
changes  and  the  losses,  faith  survives,  and  the  church  of  the 
living  God  remains. 

"An  interesting  thing  to  note:  that  but  one  of  the  pastors  of 
the  St.  Cloud  Church  has  died.  No  one  would  have  rejoiced  in 
this  fortieth  anniversary  more  than  Dr.  Whitaker,  had  he  been 
living.    Who  knows  whether  he  does  not  rejoice  with  us? 

"Mr.  Goodrich  is  in  Paris,  called  by  the  opportunities  of  the 
war;  Mr.  McGregor  has  just  been  elected  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions.  I  am  working  at  Home  Missions.  And  you, 
Mr.  Ehman,  are  rounding  out  the  forty  years  with  your  excellent 
ministry — sacred  years,  years  filled  with  devout  study  of  the  word 
of  God — years  of  humble  waiting  upon  God  in  prayer  and  years 
of  blessed  fellowship  with  men  and  women  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"I  thank  God  for  the  lessons  learned  at  St.  Cloud.  There  were 
moments  of  prayer   I   cannot   forget.     There  were  incidents   of 


160  St.  Cloud  Church 

spiritual  triumph  that  bespoke  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
May  the  rich  blessing  of  God  attend  those  who  worship  within 
walls  hallowed  by  the  continued  presence  of  godly  men  and 
women.  May  the  blessing  of  God  radiate  from  the  church  and 
Sunday  School,  carrying  the  influences  of  Jesus  Christ  into  each 
home  on  the  first  mountain — and  the  second  mountain,  and  in 
the  beautiful  valley  between. 

"With  warm  regards  and  remembrances  to  you,  the  pastor,  and 
through  you  to  all  the  church  of  God  at  St.  Cloud,  I  am, 
"Very  sincerely  yours, 

"G.  K.  Newell." 

The  Reverend  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich. 

I  am  unwilling,  on  so  important  an  occasion  as  the  fortieth 
anniversary  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  to  allow  this  history  to  be 
published  without  expressing  my  regret  that  our  second  pastor 
should  not  be  represented  with  his  successors,  the  Reverend 
Robert  G.  McGregor  and  the  Reverend  G.  Kennedy  Newell,  whose 
letters  appear  in  these  pages. 

Mr.  Goodrich  is  now  in  Paris,  as  pastor  of  the  American 
Church,  and  is  also  deeply  engaged  in  war  work.  I  have  heard 
it  said  that  his  days  sometimes  begin  at  5:30  A.  M.  and  end  at 
midnight.  It  is  now  six  months  since  I  sent  him  the  program 
of  the  service.  I  have  also  written  him  several  times,  but  in 
these  uncertain  days  my  letters  may  never  have  reached  him,  or 
his  reply  may  have  been  lost  at  sea. 

It  is  with  a  very  keen  sense  of  disappointment  that  I  find 
myself  unable  to  wait  longer  for  any  news  of  him;  but  as  my 
book  has  now  been  ready  for  two  months,  and  in  the  hands  of 
the  printer  for  one  month,  I  do  not  feel  justified  in  delaying 
farther  its  publication. 


St.  Cloud  Church  161 

No  one  can  for  one  moment  doubt  Mr.  Goodrich's  love  for 
the  St.  Cloud  Church,  nor  his  devotion  to  its  people  and  its 
interests.  I  recall  one  incident  which  made  a  great  impression 
on  my  mind,  as  showing  what  a  remarkable  man  he  is  and  how 
deeply  spiritual.  When  he  was  acting  as  assistant  pastor  for 
Dr.  Jowett  I  was  very  much  interested  in  a  patient  at  the  hospital. 
It  was  a  peculiar  case,  and  I  was  perplexed  regarding  the  right 
thing  to  do,  since  the  man,  as  I  knew,  could  live  but  a  short 
time,  and  had  had  no  religious  training.  While  I  was  anxious 
to  talk  with  him,  he  was  in  such  a  precarious  state  of  health  I 
feared  that  I  might  alarm  him  unduly,  and  perhaps  precipitate 
a  fatal  result.  I  called,  therefore,  on  Mr.  Goodrich  and  asked 
his  advice.  He  helped  me  in  just  the  way  I  wanted  to  be  helped, 
and  then  quick  as  a  flash  he  added,  "And  I  will  put  him  on  my 
prayer  list,  Mrs.  Brown."  Surely  one  who  could  make  such  a 
response  as  that  in  regard  to  a  perfect  stranger  could  not  fail  to 
remember  in  his  prayers  those  to  whom  he  once  ministered  as  a 
pastor. 

Were  he  to  write  you,  I  am  sure  he  would  recall  most  beauti- 
fully the  forty  years  in  which  "the  Lord  hath  led  us."  I  deeply 
regret  that  these  words  of  mine  should  have  to  be  substituted 
for  a  direct  message  from  him,  a  message  which  I  feel  sure 
would  have  come  straight  from  his  heart.  M.  E.  B. 

FINANCIAL. 

From  time  to  time  in  the  history  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church  the 
statement  has  been  made,  with  perhaps  a  touch  of  pardonable 
pride,  that  the  organization  has  never  been  in  debt.  This  is  sub- 
stantially true.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  all  contributions  are 
voluntary,  that  there  are  no  pew  rents,  and  that  the  revenue  comes 
only  in  the  form  of  yearly  subscriptions  or  through  the  regular 


162  St.  Cloud  Church 

weekly  offering  (envelope  system),  there  has  never  been  a  time 
when  anything  other  than  a  slight  deficiency  has  been  reported  by 
the  treasurer.  These  deficiencies  have  always  been  promptly  paid 
by  special  contributions  on  the  part  of  the  congregation,  and 
various  funds,  "Furnace  Funds,"  "Organ  Funds,"  repair  funds, 
etc.,  have  been  raised  in  the  same  way. 

The  first  treasurer's  report  to  be  read  to  the  St.  Cloud  congre- 
gation was  the  one  given  by  General  McClellan  at  the  dedication 
of  the  church,  September  13,  1877.     (See  page  32.) 

We  hear  of  the  annual  report  being  read  again  by  General 
McClellan  in  July,  1885,  a  few  months  before  his  death.  After 
this  the  accounts  ran  for  three  years  without  any  report,  when, 
at  the  request  of  the  officers  of  the  church,  Mr.  Alfred  R.  Kimball 
went  over  the  books  and  made  up  the  account  for  the  time  between 
July,  1885,  and  July,  1888.  The  report  was  then  read  and  on  the 
first  Sunday  of  July  in  each  succeeding  year,  until  1896,  when 
the  report  was  first  printed.  A  separate  treasurer's  report  was 
published  for  the  next  nine  years.  In  1905  this  was  included  in 
the  annual  report,  published  for  the  first  time  in  this  year  and 
printed  annually  ever  since. 

The  church  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Eugene  Delano  for  his  faithful 
services  as  treasurer  and  clerk  of  the  session  in  the  early  days  of 
its  history,  as  shown  by  the  beautiful  records  which  still  exist; 
to  Mr.  Kimball,  who  has  always  stood  ready  to  assist  the  church 
in  administering  its  financial  matters,  as  in  many  other  ways;  to 
Mr.  Willet  C.  Roper,  who  for  several  years  gave  much  of  his  time 
and  energy  as  treasurer,  and  to  Mr.  Elmer  Condit,  who  for  the 
past  few  years  has  labored  faithfully  and  efficiently  in  that  office. 

In  1907,  with  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Newell,  the  pastor's  salary, 
which  from  the  first  days  of  the  church  had  been  $1,500  a  year, 
was  changed  to  $1,800,  the  amount  which  still  obtains. 

In  the  spring  of  1910  the  officers  of  the  church  discussed  the 


St.  Cloud  Church  163 

advisability  of  taking  the  St.  Cloud  property  from  the  custody  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange  and  of  placing  it  in  the 
hands  of  a  board  of  trustees  of  its  own.  The  Newark  Evening, 
News  gives  the  following  report  of  a  meeting  held  June  13: 

"For  the  purpose  of  considering  the  advisability  of  creating 
a  board  of  trustees,  a  special  meeting  was  held  last  night  by  the 
ofl&cials  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church.  Although  it  is  nearly  thirty 
years  since  the  church  was  organized,  the  property  has  been  self- 
supporting,  but  until  now  no  step  has  been  taken  toward  having 
the  congregation  assume  the  custody  and  control  of  the  property." 

During  recent  years  large  extensions  have  been  made,  and 
with  the  erection  of  the  John  Crosby  Brown  Memorial  Sunday 
School  building,  the  officials  have  reached  the  decision  that  a 
board  of  trustees  should  be  erected.  The  question  will  be  pre- 
sented to  the  congregation  on  Sunday,  when  arrangements  will  be 
made  for  a  special  meeting  in  the  near  future,  at  which  the  matter 
will  be  voted  upon." 

The  congregational  meeting  was  held  soon  after,  and  the  fol- 
lowing is  the  list  of  St.  Cloud's  first  trustees: 

Robert  Baird 
Elmer  Condit 
Wm.  E.  Condit 
Moreau  Delano 
Alfred  R.  Kimball 
Winthrop  D.  Smith 

The  full  list  of  the  trustees  of  the  succeeding  years  is  on  a 
later  page  with  statistics  of  a  similar  nature,  but  this  is  a  fitting 
place  to  quote  from  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Newell,  July  11th, 
1912,  from  Chicago.  It  is  of  value  as  showing  his  continued 
interest  in  the  church. 


164  St.  Cloud  Church 

"News  has  just  come  from  St.  Cloud  which  makes  me  happier 
concerning  the  church  than  I  have  been  for  a  long  time,  the  elec- 
tion of  Mr.  Duff  as  a  trustee  and  the  election  of  Mr.  Olstead  and 
Mr.  Jamison  as  deacons,  being  an  element  introduced  into  the 
management  which  will  mean  untold  good  in  the  development  of 
the  church  life. 

"When  I  think  back  two  years  and  note  the  changes,  it  seems 
too  good  to  be  true.  The  change  began  in  the  election  of  the  trus- 
tees. Then  the  new  buildings — the  Sunday  School  and  the  Club 
House — magnificent  gifts  to  St.  Cloud;  but  it  is  most  interesting 
to  mark  the  aftermath.  It  is  more  than  good  to  have  Mr.  Duff 
as  a  trustee,  and  in  Mr.  Olstead  the  church  has  captured  a  strong 
and  vital  element  for  the  club  and  neighborhood." 

In  1913  a  new  method  of  collecting  contributions  for  benevo- 
lences was  instigated  by  Mr.  Ehman.  Before  this  time  they  had 
been  made  to  special  objects  at  special  occasions,  and  the  giving, 
instead  of  being  dependable  and  systematic,  had  been  too  much 
influenced  by  the  weather  and  by  differences  in  the  eloquence  of 
speakers.  In  the  hope  of  systematizing  this  giving  to  benevolent 
objects,  it  was  proposed  to  put  it  on  a  new  basis.  Each  member 
of  the  congregation  was  asked  to  state  in  advance  the  amount 
which  he  or  she  would  pledge  to  benevolences  during  the  year,  the 
aggregate  amount  thus  subscribed  to  be  divided  by  the  session  as 
might  seem  just — the  amount  being  reported  to  the  church.  This 
project  was  further  explained  and  established  by  an  "every  mem- 
ber canvass"  in  1914,  since  which  the  benevolences  have  been  ad- 
ministered on  a  business-like  and  systematic  basis. 

The  "Susan  Magoun  Delano  Trust  Fund,"  established  this  year 
(1917)  and  already  mentioned  in  the  body  of  this  history,  is  a 
fitting  climax  to  this  brief  review  of  the  financial  matters  of  the 
St.  Cloud  Church,  and  opens  to  us  a  vista  of  long  years  of  useful- 
ness, unhindered  by  care  or  anxiety  as  to  material  resources. 


St.  Cloud  Church  165 

MEMORIALS  AND  OTHER  GIFTS. 
Memorials. 

1.  Susan  Magoun  Delano  Trust  Fund  to  endow  the  church, 
given  by  Mr.  Eugene  Delano  in  memory  of  his  wife. 

The  following  articles  were  presented  by  the  persons  whose 
names  are  here  mentioned: 

2.  Memorial  window.  From  Miss  Caroline  Delano,  in 
memory  of  her  niece,  Martha  Delano,  born  July  27th,  1875,  and 
died  August  16th,  1876.  Daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eugene 
Delano. 

3.  Font.  In  memory  of  Mary  A.  Marcy  (Mrs.  Randolph  B. 
Marcy)  by  her  children. 

4.  Memorial  Tablets. 

Dr.  William  Adams 

General  McClellan 

Mr.  John  Crosby  Brown 

5.  "Welcome"  sign  on  the  front  of  the  church.  In  memory 
of  Carrie  Nevins  Condit,  died  February  21st,  1891.  Given  by  the 
"Willing  Workers." 

6.  Hymn-board.  Given  in  memory  of  Ernest  Anderson, 
grandson  of  Dr.  Anderson.    Died  July  27th,  1884. 

7.  Organ  lamp  and  pulpit  lamp.  Given  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Condit  in  memory  of  their  daughter,  Carrie. 

8.  Pulpit  table.  Given  by  Mrs.  Moore  in  memory  of  her 
husband,  Mr.  Alfred  Moore. 

9.  Organ  in  the  Chapel.  Given  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartley  in 
memory  of  Emma  Hartley,  died  March  3rd,  188] . 

10.     Desk  in  the  study.     Given  in  memory  of  Almira  Rogers 
by  her  husband. 


166  St.  Cloud  Church 

11.  Revised  Bible  and  Presbyterian  Prayer-Book.  Given  by 
Miss  Kate  G.  Moore  in  memory  of  her  father  and  mother. 

12.  Velvet  cover  for  pulpit  desk.  In  memory  of  her  husband, 
by  Mrs.  Robert  Martin. 

13.  Kneeling-bench  used  for  baptisms  and  weddings.  In 
memory  of  Albert  Condit  and  his  wife,  Rachel  C.  Condit,  by  their 
children,  December,  1909. 

Other  Gifts. 

The  church  organ.    Presented  by  Mrs.  John  Crosby  Brown. 

The  six  small  stained  glass  windows  in  the  Adams  Chapel,  each 
containing  a  conventional  flower  and  a  verse  of  Scripture.  Also 
a  gift  of  Mrs.  Brown. 

A  portrait  glass  window  of  Dr.  Adams  in  the  chapel.  Pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Thatcher  M.  Adams. 

The  floor  tiling.  A  contribution  from  Mr.  Alexander  Brown, 
of  England. 

The  Communion  Table.    Gift  of  Miss  Caroline  Delano. 

Large  Communion  Service.    From  a  member  of  the  church. 

Individual  service.    Gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winthrop  Smith. 

Small  Service  (used  for  the  sick).  Gift  of  Miss  Frances  Mor- 
ris and  Miss  Eleanor  Crawford. 

Foot  benches.  From  the  Church  of  the  Covenant.  A  gift  sug- 
gested by  Mr.  Kimball. 

Cover  for  table  in  pulpit.    Gift  of  Miss  Kate  Moore. 


St.  Cloud  Church  167 

JOTTINGS. 
Supplies  and  Special  Sermons. 

1883.  Dr.  Edward  Caldwell  Moore — three  months,  during 
Mr.  Whitaker's  absence  in  Europe.  And  again  in  1906,  for  two 
months. 

1895.  Rev.  Caldwell  Morrison — two  months,  in  the  interim 
between  Mr.  Whitaker  and  Mr.  Goodrich,  and  Rev.  William  Adams 
Brown  during  the  Summer. 

1902.  Dr.  William  Adams  Brown— October  15th  to  Novem- 
ber 12th,  during  pastor's  absence. 

1907.  Sermon  by  Dr.  Whitaker  (then  at  Elizabeth),  in  cele- 
bration of  the  30th  anniversary  of  his  installation  at  St.  Cloud. 

Presbytery  at  St.  Cloud. 

In  the  years  1886,  1905  and  1916. 

Miscellaneous  Facts. 

The  first  death  in  the  communicant  membership  of  the  church 
was  that  of  Mrs.  Randolph  B.  Marcy,  a  charter  member.  The  font 
given  as  a  memorial  to  her  by  her  children  was  used  for  the  first 
time  at  the  baptism  of  Amy  Brighthurst  Brown  by  the  hand  of  her 
grandfather,  Dr.  Adams,  July  21st,  1878. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  church  "Neighborhood  Meetings" 
were  held  in  the  various  homes  of  the  parish  in  addition  to  the 
regular  Friday  evening  prayer-meeting  and  sometimes  in  its  place. 

The  gown  was  first  worn  on  April  24th,  1881.  Early  in  Mr. 
Newell's  pastorate  the  ladies  of  the  church,  discovering  that  it  was 
fast  wearing  out,  constituted  themselves  an  informal  committee, 


168  St.  Cloud  Church 

with  Miss  Emma  Stenken  as  chairman,  and  raised  the  funds  for  a 
new  gown. 

The  Communion  Service  was  held  every  three  months,  until 
January,  1902,  when,  by  vote  of  the  Session,  it  was  decided  to 
hold  it  every  two  months. 

The  first  printed  order  of  service  was  issued  in  1897. 

The  Fourth  of  July  Celebration,  in  the  early  days  of  the 
church,  was  held  a  few  times  on  the  church  grounds  or  on  the 
lawn  in  front  of  the  parsonage.  Later  the  custom  of  having  a 
picnic  at  Verona  was  established.  This  continued  until  1915,  when 
the  present  custom  of  having  an  undenominational  community 
entertainment  on  the  church  grounds  was  started. 

The  Christian  Endeavor  Society  was  reorganized  in  1913  and 
became  the  Young  People's  Association.  In  November  of  the 
same  year  the  Association  first  instituted  the  custom  of  making 
monthly  visits  to  the  almshouse,  the  Orange  City  Home  in  Living- 
ston. 

The  Ladies'  Foreign  Missionary  Society  and  the  Sewing  So- 
ciety, both  of  which  have  existed  since  the  early  days  of  the 
church,  have  been  valuable  adjuncts  to  the  church  work. 

In  1906  a  kindergarten  department  for  children  from  three 
to  six  years  old  was  opened.     (April  1st.) 

In  1907  a  Sunday  School  lesson  study  class  was  held  at  the 
parsonage  before  prayer-meetings,  at  7:15. 

The  Orange  Mountain  Sunday  School  Association,  an  organi- 
zation of  the  various  Sunday  Schools  on  the  two  mountains  (Liv- 
ingston, Roseland,  Northfield,  etc.)  has  held  several  of  its  meet- 
ings at  St.  Cloud  in  the  past  few  years. 

In  1912  the  graded  system  of  Sunday  School  lessons  was  insti- 
tuted at  St.  Cloud. 

It  has  always  been  the  custom  on  Children's  Day  to  present 
Bibles  to  those  pupils  who  have  learned  the  books  of  the  Bible 


St.  Cloud  Church  169 

by  heart,  also  to  those  who  have  had  the  best  record  of  attendance. 
The  records  for  attendance  are  held  by  Norman  Barker  and  David 
Duff.  The  latter  had  a  perfect  attendance  for  five  years  (1910  to 
1915). 

Norman  Barker's  record  of  ten  years  of  perfect  attendance 
(1907  to  1917)  is  the  more  remarkable  as  he  is  blind.  For  the 
past  few  years  the  Sunday  School  has  given  him  its  prizes  in  the 
form  of  books  of  the  Bible  in  New  York  Point.  At  the  present 
date  of  writing  (1917)  he  owns  seven  volumes,  including  all  the 
books  of  the  New  Testament  and  the  following  Old  Testament 
books:  Genesis,  Exodus,  Joshua,  Ruth,  1st  and  2nd  Samuel,  the 
Psalms,  Isaiah,  and  Jeremiah.  These  have  been  awarded  him  for 
committing  to  memory  different  parts  of  the  Bible,  as  well  as  for 
his  remarkable  attendance.  He  has  learned  and  knows  by  heart 
ten  or  fifteen  Psalms  and  as  many  New  Testament  chapters. 

For  thirty-three  years  Mr.  Aaron  A.  Quimby  was  the  organist 
of  the  St.  Cloud  Church.  During  these  years  he  never  missed  a 
single  service,  in  spite  of  summer  heat  and  the  difficulty  of  trav- 
elling along  the  mountain  in  winter,  when  it  was  covered  with  ice 
and  snow.  On  the  Christmas  following  the  25th  anniversary  of 
his  connection  with  the  church,  the  congregation  presented  him 
with  a  watch  as  a  token  of  their  affectionate  appreciation  of  his 
faithful  services.  He  was  succeeded  October,  1910,  by  Mr.  Frank 
L.  Drew,  who  has  sustained  the  musical  reputation  of  the  church 
and  has  filled  the  position  most  acceptably. 


170 


St.  Cloud  Church 


STATISTICS. 


Pastors. 


Rev.  William  F.  Whitaker 
Rev.  Chaunce'y  W.  Goodrich 
Rev.  Robert  G.  McGregor 
Rev.  George  K.  Newell 
Rev.  A.  Roy  Ehman 


G.  B.  McClellan 
E.  Delano 
M.  Condit 
E.  I.  Jacobus 
W.  N.  Williams 
T.  M.  Timms 
M.  E.  Condit 
E.  H.  Moore 
J.  P.  Condit 
W.  E.  Condit 


M.  E.  Condit 
J.  P.  Condit 
A.  W.  LeClerc 
W.  E.  Condit 
R.  Baird 
W.  D.  Smith 

E.  Condit 
W.  C.  Roper 

F.  H.  Jamison 
J.  0.  Olstead 


Nov.  22,  1877— Dec.  6,  1894 

Oct.  15,  1895— April  17,  1901 

Nov.  25,  1901— June  26,  1906 

Sept.  28,  1906— Nov.  25,  1911 

June  21,  1912—  


Elders. 


June  10,  1877— Oct.  29,  1885 

June  10,  1877— Jan.  26,  1888 

Sept.  27,  1877— Sept.  28,  1891 

Sept.  27,  1877— Nov.  27,  1899 

May  27,  1888— April  15,  1907 

May  27,  1888—  

July  5,  1896—  

May  7,  1905— Oct.  1,  1911 

August  4,  1907—  

August  4,  1907—  


Deacons. 


July  1,  1888— July  5,  1896 
July  1,  1888— Aug.  4,  1907 
July  1,  1888— Feb.  23,  1902 
July  5,  1896— Aug.  4,  1907 
May  7,  1905— July  2,  1911 

May  7,  1905— Nov.  12,  1911 

August  4,  1907—  

Dec.  22,  1907— July,  1912 

Aug.  4,  1912— June  15,  1915 
August  4,  1912—  


St.  Cloud  Church 


171 


Trustees. 


R.  Baird 
E.  Condit 
W.  E.  Condit 
M.  Delano 
A.  R.  Kimball 
W.  D.  Smith 
J.  Schroll 
P.  Duff 


1910  to  1911 

1910      

1910      

1910      

1910      

1910  to  1912 

1911      

1912      


Sextons. 


John  Holterman  June,  1877 — May,  1880 

Fred'k  McKenzie  May,  1880— 

And  he  has  continued  his  faithful  service  ever  since. 


172  St.  Cloud  Church 


PARTIAL  LIST  OF  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Historical  Sketch  9 

"The  Christian  Path" 10 

"Orange  Mountain,"  Poem,  by  Rev.  H.  N.  Cobb 11 

Orange  Valley  Congregational  Church  Mission 14 

Origin  of  St.  Cloud  Church 16 

Laying  of  the  Cornerstone....* 20 

Revolutionary   Signal    Station 21 

Opening  Service  of  St.  Cloud  Church 24 

Dedication  of  St.  Cloud  Church 29 

Architectural  Description  of  St.  Cloud  Church 34 

Rev.  J.  0.  Averill 37 

Installation  of  the  Rev.  William  F.  Whitaker 37 

Christmas  Celebrations  39 

Harvest  Home  44 

Praise  Service  of  the  Flowers 49 

Giving  Festival  51 

Mrs.  Bella   Cooke 52 

Death  of  Dr.  William  Adams  and  Memorial  Service 54 

Eulogy  of  Dr.  Adams,  by  General  George  B.  McClellan 54 

Death  of  General  McClellan 59 

Meeting  of  Presbytery  at  St.  Cloud 62 

The  Parsonage 63 

Installation  of  the  "Parson's  Pony" 65 

Circulating   Library 70 

The  Willing  Worker 71 

Party  for  "Three  Score  Years  and  Ten" 79 

Singing  Class 80 

Stenography    Class 80 

Resignation  of  the  Rev.  William  F.  Whitaker 80 


St.  Cloud  Church  173 

Rev.  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich 85 

Installation  of  the  Rev.  Robert  G.  McGregor 93 

Parish  House 93 

Washington's   Birthday   Celebration 96 

Resignation  of  the  Rev.  Robert  G.  McGregor 98 

Installation  of  the  Rev.  George  Kennedy  Newell 100 

Lahore,  India  101 

Memorial  Service  for  Mr.  John  Crosby  Brown 102 

European  Letter  from  Mr.   John  Crosby  Brown  to  the  St. 

Cloud  Sunday  School   (1889) Ill 

Laying  of  Cornerstone  of  Memorial  Sunday  School  Building  118 

Dedication  Service  of  Memorial  Sunday  School  Building 118 

Address  by  Dr.  Edward  Caldwell  Moore 124 

Address  by  Dr.  William  Adams  Brown 130 

Bas-relief,  Sunday  School  Building 134 

Men's  Club 139 

Resignation  of  the  Rev.  George  Kennedy  Newell 140 

Installation  of  the  Rev.  A.  Roy  Ehman 142 

Trust  Fund  of  St.  Cloud  Church 145 

Death  of  Dr.  William  F.  Whitaker 146 

Fortieth  Anniversary  of  St.  Cloud  Church 147 

Anniversaries    149 

Financial  Matters  161 

Memorials  and  Other  Gifts 165 

Jottings   167 

Statistics    170 


174  St.  Cloud  Church 


INDEX 

PAGE 

Adams,  Dr.  William,  Death  of  and  Memorial  Service 54 

Adams,    Dr.    William,    Eulogy    of,    by    General    George    B. 

McClellan 54 

Averill,  Reverend  J.  0 37 

Bas-relief,  Sunday  School  Building 134 

Brown,  Dr.  William  Adams,  Address  by 130 

Brown,  Mr.  John  Crosby,  Memorial  Service 102 

Children's  Day  Celebrations - 41,  149 

Condit,   Mr.   Moses 74 

Christian   Path,   The.. 10 

Christmas  Celebrations 39,  66 

Cooke,  Mrs.  Bella 52 

Circulating  Library   ..70,  96 

Ehman,  Rev.  George,  Installation  of 142 

Giving  Festival  51 

Goodrich,  Rev.  Chauncey  W. 85,  160 

Harvest   Home   44 

Historical  Sketch 9 

Lahore,  India 101 

Lectures    76 

Letter  from  Mr.  John  Crosby  Brown Ill 

Letter  from  Rev.  Edward  C.  Moore 153 

Letter  from  Rev.  William  F.  Whitaker 89 

Letters  from  Rev.  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich 86,  177 

Letters  from  Rev.  George  K.  Newell 140,  158 

Letters  from  Rev.  Robert  G.  McGregor 92,  137,  157 

McClellan,  General  George  B.,  Death  of 59 

McGregor,  Reverend  Robert  G.,  Installation  of 93 

McGregor,  Reverend  Robert  G.,  Resignation  of 98 


St.  Cloud  Church  175 

Memorial  Sunday  School  Building,  Laying  of  Cornerstone....  118 

Memorial  Sunday  School  Building,  Dedication  Service 118 

Moore,  Dr.  Edward  Caldwell,  Address  by 124 

Men's  Club  96,  139 

Nev/ell,  Reverend  George  Kennedy,  Installation  of 100 

Newell,  Reverend  George  Kennedy,  Resignation  of 140 

"Orange  Mountain,"  Poem  by  Rev.  H.  N.  Cobb 11 

Orange  Valley  Congregational  Church  Mission 14 

Praise  Service  of  the  Flov/ers.... 49 

Parsonage,   The 63 

Parson's  Pony,  Installation  of 65 

Parish  House 93 

Revolutionary  Signal  Station 21 

St.  Cloud  Church,  Origin  of  16 

St.  Cloud  Church,  Laying  of  Cornerstone 20 

St.  Cloud  Church,  Opening  Service  24 

St.  Cloud  Church,  Dedication  of 29 

St.  Cloud  Church,  Architectural   Description   of 34 

St.  Cloud  Church,  Meetings  of  Presbytery  at 62,  167 

St.  Cloud  Church,  Trust   Fund   of 145 

St.  Cloud  Church,  Fortieth   Anniversary   147,  155 

Singing  Class 80 

Stenography  Class 80 

"Three  Score  Years  and  Ten" 79 

Washington's  Birthday  Celebration 96 

Whitaker,  Rev.  Wm.  F.,  Installation  of 37 

Whitaker,  Rev.  Wm.  F.,  Resignation  of.. 80 

Whitaker,  Rev.  Wm.  F.,  Death  of 146 

Willing  Worker,  The,  Church  Paper 71 


176  St.  Cloud  Church 


Appendix 

Anniversaries    149 

Financial  Matters  161 

Jottings   167 

Memorials  and  Other  Gifts 165 

Statistics   170 


St.  Cloud  Church  177 

Letter  from  the  Reverend  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich 

FOR  the  Fortieth  Anniversary,  but  Received  Too  Late  to 
be  Placed  with  the  Other  Letters  in  the  Book. 

Paris,  France,  Oct.  20th,  1917. 

To  My  Friends  of  the  St.  Cloud  Church: — It  seems  a  far 
cry  from  Orange  Mountain  to  Paris,  but  in  the  past  weeks  the 
distance  has  been  bridged  in  delightful  fashion,  as  I  have  had 
the  satisfaction  of  meeting  one  after  another  of  those  who  knew 
St.  Cloud  and  the  Church  and  could  join  with  me  in  pleasant 
memories  of  the  years  spent  there. 

A  month  or  two  ago  a  young  ambulance  driver  on  leave  was 
in  my  study  consulting  about  other  forms  of  service,  when  he 
said,  "Oh!  this  will  interest  you.  Yesterday  I  remarked  to  a 
group  in  our  section,  'When  in  Paris  to-morrow,  I  am  going  to 
ask  Dr.  Goodrich  about  army  enlistment.'  'Dr.  Goodrich?'  an- 
swered one  of  the  fellows.  'Why,  he  baptized  me.'  "  It  was 
Robert  Duff  who  spoke,  and  since  then  I  have  seen  him  more 
than  once  and  shall  hope  to  see  him  more.  He  is  now  render- 
ing most  efficient  service  in  connection  with  the  Red  Cross. 

A  few  weeks  later,  at  a  morning  service,  I  noticed  a  nurse's 
costume  among  the  khaki  uniforms,  and  I  was  not  long  in  recog- 
nizing the  wearer  as  Miss  Dorothea  Moore,  whom  I  first  knew 
at  the  Mountain  Church  as  a  very  little  girl.  She  holds  a  post 
of  much  importance  in  one  of  the  larger  American  hospitals  in 
Paris. 

But  a  few  Sundays  later  in  one  standing  a  half  head  higher 
than  his  neighbors  in  the  pew,  I  recognized  so  old  a  friend  as 
Mr.  James  Crosby  Brown,  whom  I  have  known  from  boyhood 
in  summers  on  the  Mountain.     In  the  financial  management  of 


178  St.  Cloud  Church 

the  great  Red  Cross  work  in  Paris  he  is  occupying  a  position  of 
heavy  responsibility. 

And,  last,  when  talking  with  a  British  colonel,  of  the  Gen- 
eral Staff,  whose  acquainfance  I  had  made  in  our  hotel,  I  found 
that  he,  too,  knew  most  pleasantly  the  Mountain  and  the  Church. 

It  is  not  without  significance  that  these  friends,  who  renewed 
in  so  welcome  a  fashion  the  links  with  the  St.  Cloud  Church,  all 
finely  represented  the  spirit  which  has  characterized  the  church 
through  all  the  years — the  spirit  of  self-giving  service.  None 
were  here  in  Paris  as  travellers  or  sight-seers.  All  were  here  to 
help,  by  work  for  the  great  cause,  arduous  and  exacting.  As  I 
recall  the  life  of  the  church  of  twenty  years  ago,  there  are  those 
conspicuous  for  their  large  service  whom  I  could  easily  name, 
but  rather  I  prefer  to  emphasize  that  common  fidelity  which  dis- 
tinguished the  great  body  of  the  congregation.  In  that  scattered 
community,  with  the  absorbing  demands  of  the  daily  task,  with 
the  hindrance  of  heat  and  cold,  snow  and  rain,  yet  ever  the  things 
which  concerned  the  church  were  to  be  maintained  at  their  best. 
Though  it  meant  the  postponement  of  other  things,  and  long 
walks  or  drives,  and  tired  home-goings,  tliere  could  be  no  sagging 
or  neglect  in  the  things  of  the  Church.  From  my  people  in  St. 
Cloud  I  learned  why  the  Apostle  ranked  so  high  the  grace  of 
"patient  continuance  in  well  doing."  In  the  life  of  any  church 
nothing  counts  for  more. 

As  I  write  I  can  glance  up  at  a  picture  of  the  "Little  Church" 
on  the  mantel,  photographed  and  colored  by  one  of  your  faith- 
ful fellow  members.  "Little"  it  has  not  been  in  its  influence  nor 
in  the  congregations,  which  often  equal  those  found  in  much 
larger  edifices.  But  its  structure,  standing  in  the  setting  of  open 
country,  has  always  appealed,  not  by  grandeur,  but  by  a  certain 
friendly  intimacy.  The  building,  which  we  could  make  all 
bowery  with  blossoms  on  Children's  Day,  all  green  with  ivy  at 


St.  Cloud  Church  179 

Christmas,  has  been  peculiarly  dear  to  us  all.  No  one  who  has 
worshipped  often  in  that  church  has  failed  to  carry  it  always  in 
his  heart. 

Every  worshipper  at  St.  Cloud  understands  why,  from  of  old, 
men  have  sought  the  high  places  for  adoration.  Away  from  the 
roar  of  cities,  away  from  murky  smoke  clouds,  the  soul  hears 
with  less  effort  the  still  small  voice  and  the  upward  way  of 
prayer  seems  more  manifestly  open. 

Thus  an  old  pastor  turns  often  in  memory  to  a  people  whom 
he  will  always  love  and,  amid  the  rush  and  strain  of  a  great 
capital  in  the  midst  of  war,  he  finds  himself  "in  the  Spirit  on 
the  Lord's  Day"  with  those  who  gather  in  the  dear  Church  on  the 
Moimtain. 

Fraternally  yours, 

Chauncey  W.  Goodrich. 


The  Abbey  Printshop 
East  Orange,  N.  J. 


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